iraffe would go toppling over; an active koodoo or
gemsbok would spring over their heads, to fall hopelessly into the same
trap. In a short time the whole pit was filled with a living, moving,
struggling mass of animals, fearful to look at. The savage hunters,
wild with excitement, were spearing with relentless eagerness the poor
creatures, those below being borne down by the weight of their hapless
fellows who brought up the rear. A beautiful koodoo was among the
latter. On it came, leaping away, having escaped the spears of its
enemies. It reached the fatal pit. I could not help feeling an
interest in the creature. Would it too be added to the victims? It
hesitated not a moment, but bounding over the beams, seemed scarcely to
touch the animals below, as with a spring it cleared the opposite side.
In vain the hunters darted their spears. Off it dashed like the wind,
and the satisfaction I felt at its escape made some amends to me for the
misery and suffering I had beheld. I literally turned sick with horror,
and hope I may never witness such a scene again. The savages, however,
seemed to consider it magnificent sport, and stood over the pit plunging
their spears into any animal which appeared moving. So far I was
thankful, as it put them out of their misery. The hunters did not
altogether escape. Some got severe kicks; several had been knocked over
and trampled on, in spite of their activity. They had succeeded,
however, in driving upwards of forty animals into the pit; for, of
course, of those which had been first assembled, a large number had
escaped, while a good many had been speared to death before reaching it,
and others had escaped into the wilds with spears in their sides, there
in most instances to die miserably. Their success put our new friends
in excellent humour. They shouted, and shrieked, and danced as they
hauled up the animals one by one out of the hopo, and eagerly commenced
cutting them up and dividing the flesh. All was meat for their pots--
the zebra and giraffe, as well as the buffalo and deer.

"It was nearly evening before the work was over. They pressed us to
remain to see another on the following day, but I had had enough of it,
and more than enough, indeed. I do not know how the case would have
been if I had been very hungry and wanted food. Probably I might have
experienced some of the satisfaction which our savage friends did.
Igubo and his sons were highly delighted at