Chapter XX: Notes on the Masarwa: the Bushmen of the Interior of South Africa

First Bushmen seen by author in 1872--Armed with bows and
arrows--Large areas of country uninhabited except by Bushmen--The
Masarwa--Origin of the word "Vaalpens"--Dwarf race mentioned
by Professor Keane--Notes on the language of the Bushmen north
of the Orange river--Apparently very similar to that spoken
by the Koranas--The author's faithful Korana servant--The
Nero family--Physical dissimilarity between the Koranas and
the Masarwa--Stature of Bushmen met with north of the Orange
river--Probably a pure race--The Bakalahari--Livingstone's account
of them--Khama's kindness to them--Habits and mode of life of the
Masarwa--Their weapons--Bows and poisoned arrows--Food of the
Bushmen--Bush children tracking tortoises--Terrible privations
sometimes endured by Bushmen--Provision against famine--A giraffe
hunt--Rotten ostrich egg found by Bushmen and eaten--Fundamental
difference of nature between Bushmen and civilised races not
great--Personal experiences with Bushmen--Their marvellous
endurance--Skill as hunters and trackers--Incident with
lion--Family affection amongst Bushmen--Not unworthy members of
the human race Pages 328-348

INDEX 349

ILLUSTRATIONS

"UNFORTUNATELY, ONE OF THESE TERRIFIC BLOWS, VERY PROBABLY THE FIRST
AIMED AT THE LEOPARD WHICH SEIZED THE CALF, HAD STRUCK THE LITTLE
CREATURE ON THE LOINS AND BROKEN ITS BACK" _Frontispiece_

FACING PAGE

"HE HAD EVIDENTLY BEEN SITTING OR LYING BY A FIRE WHEN CAUGHT" 53

PLATE SHOWING DIFFERENCES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MANE IN LIONS
INHABITING A COMPARATIVELY SMALL AREA OF COUNTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA 76

"A PICKED MAN OF DAUNTLESS HEART ... WOULD RUSH FORWARD ALONE...." 93

"ON THE SECOND NIGHT THEY ONCE MORE LEFT IT ALONE, BUT ON THE THIRD
THEY DEVOURED IT" 103

"SUCH OLD BUFFALO BULLS WERE VERY SLOW ABOUT GETTING OUT OF ONE'S
WAY" 146

PHOTOGRAPHS OF A STRUGGLE BETWEEN A RHINOCEROS AND A CROCODILE:

No. 1. Shows the Rhinoceros holding its own, but unable to reach the
bank 202

No. 2. Shows the Rhinoceros still struggling, but in deeper water 202

No. 3. Shows the Rhinoceros after it had turned round, and just
before it got into deep water and was pulled under 202

"I KNEW IT WAS A MALE INYALA--THE FIRST THAT MY EYES HAD EVER LOOKED
UPON" 242

"THE GEMSBUCKS WERE NOW GOING AT THEIR UTMOST SPEED, AND WHEN I HAD
PASSED THE ZEBRAS WERE STILL SIXTY OR SEVENTY YARDS IN FRONT OF
ME" 258

"MY GUN-CARRIER HURLED ANOTHER LUMP OF BURNING WOOD AT OUR VISITOR"
273

THE LAST OF SOUTH AFRICA'S GAME HAUNTS 302