Part 1 (1/2)

Hendricks the Hunter

by WHG Kingston

CHAPTER ONE

THE TRADER IN ZULULAND

Zululand is a wild region oftorrents, rapidly flowing rivers, plains covered with row fat, and level plateaux extending for many miles across it, several hundred feet above the level of the ocean; while scattered here and there, in soes and the rounds of the natives Wild as is the country, and although roads, properly speaking, there are none, it is sufficiently practicable for waggons in various directions

Some few years back, one of these vehicles, drawn by a span of twelve oxen, was seen sloending its way to the south-west, in the direction of Natal It was a loosely yet strongly builtand four wide, for all ways, so that, as occasionally happened, as it slowly rumbled and bumped onward, when the front wheel sank into a deep hole, the others reht It was tilted over with thick canvas i thus well sheltered from the hardest showers, and even froether, as beca accustomed to work in company On a board in front stood a Hottentot driver, his black visage surmounted by a broad-brimmed straw hat ornamented by a few ostrich feathers twined round the crohile his hand held a whip of Brobdignagian proportions, the stock being fully fourteen feet, and the lash upwards of twenty-four feet in length, hich he occasionally urged on the leaders, or drew blood from the animals beneath his feet, as well as froround or its unusual roughness required an additional exertion of their strength

Several blacka gun at his back, and a long pole in his hand, accoon on foot At so ure, dressed in a grey suit, with a broad-briun at his back and a brace of pistols in a broad belt which he wore round his waist Though his hair and beard were slightly grizzled, yet, by the expression of his countenance and his easy movements, he appeared to have lost none of the activity of youth, while his firy

Soth sufficient to enable theon would have shown that it was fully loaded, the chief contents being the skins of wild anie tusks of elephants, and other spoils of the chase, hich the proprietor was returning after a hunt ofor D'Urban

The horse traders and hunters who roam over the southern parts of the dark continent to barter European goods for cattle, skins, ivory, and other produce of the country As he was the owner of the waggon and the nate hi hihts, but occasionally he turned to address a tall Kaffir by his side, whose leopard-skin robe and head-dress, the long rifle at his back, and the independent air hich he walked, betokened hi hunter, and the familiar way in which he was addressed and replied, showed that he was held in high estee-place before long, Uh journey, and will require plenty of tirass and water are to be found, and where we may watch them, and defend ourselves, should any of the people hereabouts take a fancy to the beasts or to the contents of our waggon”

”The master shall be obeyed,” answered the Kaffir ”It uard, for the Zulus in these parts are arrant thieves, and will not scruple to steal if they have the chance”

The Kaffir, who had of course spoken in his native tongue, hurried ahead of the teaon overtook hi one side of a valley through which ran a sparkling strea covered with rich grass No more favourable spot could have been selected for the camp, as the stream served as a boundary on one side, and the hill on the other, so that a man stationed at either end could effectually prevent the cattle fro which the waggon was travelling, and on a level space souished in the distance a circular palisade for above the enclosure It was so far off, however, that the inhabitants were not likely to have discovered the waggon as it passed along

At that period, it should be understood, the Zulus and their white neighbours were on tolerably good terht occasionally have carried off a few horses or head of cattle belonging to the settlers, when they could do so without the risk of being caught

Sportsmen and traders therefore penetrated fearlessly into the country, the traders carrying cotton goods, blankets, cutlery, and not unfrequently fireared for skins and oxen

However, ill return to our friends At a short distance froolo for the camp was a wood from which fuel for the fires could be obtained, and which would have affordedup a fortification, had such been considered necessary But the sturdy owner of the waggon, with his band of expert marksmen, believed hiht venture to interfere with hi unyoked, they hurried of their own accord down to the streauns in hand, in case any lion or other savage beast should be lurking in the neighbourhood The water was too shallow for crocodiles, which in ainst The rest of thestakes and poles to forht be penned during the dark hours of night

Meantiolo, set off in search of a springboc or a pallah, called also the rooyaboc, or a wild boar or a water-buck, whose flesh ht serve the party for supper and breakfast

There was no fear of starving in a country where numberless varieties of animals abounded They made their way towards a thicket which extended from some distance up the hill, across the valley, almost down to the river Game of some sort was sure to be found within it, while at the same time they themselves would be concealed by the thick bushes, and be enabled to get sufficiently close to an animal to shoot it with certainty

It was only, however, in some places that the thicket could be penetrated; for below the largewhich it was i to e frorew the creeper known as the ”wait-a-bit,” because its hooked thorns will catch the clothes of any person brushi+ng by it, and compel hi theive it the still er,” as they affire creature, who may unwarily leap into it, will find itself trapped in a way from which there is no escape

Then there was the cactus with spikes three inches in length, and the ”Come and I'll kiss you,” a bush are nettles, and nu iress, not only of hus, but of every species of animal, with the exception of elephants and rhinoceroses, which h theone far, when, as they were skirting the thicket, they ca his rifle, fired, and one of the graceful anirass The rest bounded off like lightning, to escape the shot which the native discharged Both hurrying forward, soon put the deer out of its misery