Hendricks the Hunter | Page 2

for cattle, skins, ivory, and other produce of the
country. As he was the owner of the waggon and the master of the men
attending it, we will for the present designate him as the Trader. He
generally rode on in silence, amusing himself with his own thoughts,
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 with which he walked, betokened him to be a leading
hunter, and the familiar way in which he was addressed and replied,
showed that he was held in high esteem by his employer.
"We must look out for a camping-place before long, Umgolo," said the
trader. "The beasts have had a rough journey, and will require plenty of
time for feeding. Do you go on ahead, and select a spot where grass 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 may be as well,
as he has said, to be on our guard, 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 team. In a short time the waggon overtook him at a spot
which he had chosen on the slope of a hill forming one side of a valley
through which ran a sparkling stream, the ground in the neighbourhood
of its banks being 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 from straying.
Another valley opened into that along which the waggon was travelling,
and on a level space some considerable way from the bottom could be
distinguished in the distance a circular palisade forming a kraal, the
dome-roofed huts just appearing 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 terms, though some of the former
might 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 firearms and powder and shot, which they exchanged for
skins and oxen.
However, we will return to our friends. At a short distance from the
spot selected by Umgolo for the camp was a wood from which fuel for
the fires could be obtained, and which would have afforded materials
for throwing up a fortification, had such been considered necessary.
But the sturdy owner of the waggon, with his band of expert marksmen,
believed himself well able to cope with any natives who might venture
to interfere with him.
Having outspanned, or in other words the oxen being unyoked, they
hurried of their own accord down to the stream to drink, attended by
two of the men, with their guns 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 many parts have to be guarded
against. The rest of the men were engaged in collecting fuel for the fire,
and cutting stakes and poles to form a temporary enclosure in which the
oxen might be penned during the dark hours of night.
Meantime the trader, attended by Umgolo, set off in search of a
springboc or a pallah, called also the rooyaboc, or a wild boar or a
water-buck, whose flesh might 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 large mimosa trees there grew thorny creepers

and bushes, among which it was impossible to force a passage without
the certainty of having to