On the third day after entering the plains of the "zuur-veldt," the
yagers treked to the banks of a large river, and followed its course
up-stream. The scenery was altogether new and of a different character
to that of the plains. The river was fringed with reeds and willows,
and beyond these stretched a wide bottom land of meadow-like character,
studded with groves and copses of green trees whose foliage was grateful
to the eye after the journey over the dry plains. Here the deceitful
mirage no longer tantalised them with prospects of verdant groves and
smooth limpid lakes. Both existed in reality; and a succession of
lovely landscapes met the eyes of the travellers as they advanced.
The grass upon the banks of this river was excellent, and in order that
their cattle should have the opportunity of a good feed, the party
formed camp at an early hour. They outspanned in a little meadow,
directly by the edge of the water, and made a fire out of the stems of
the willows that grew near.
Jan and Klaas noticed a large flock of birds hovering above the water,
and swooping about, something in the same manner as swallows on a summer
evening over the surface of an English lake.
They were birds of a moderate size, scarcely so big as a common pigeon--
nor was there any thing in their colour to make them attractive. They
were rather a dull-coloured set of birds for Africa, being
reddish-brown, with a mixture of white and grey; but had they been near
enough for the boys to have observed their feet and legs, these with the
"cire" around their eyes, would have appeared of a beautiful
orange-yellow colour.
There was one peculiarity about these birds, which could be observed at
a great distance, and that was their "forked" tails. In this respect
they might also be said to resemble swallows, but the forking was far
less acute than in the tails of the latter. There was enough of it to
give the birds a character; and that, with their general form and the
colour of their plumage, made it easy enough to tell to what genus the
birds belonged. They were birds of the genus _Falco_, (hawks,)
belonging to that section of it distinguished as _Milvus_, (the kites.)
Of the kites there are several species, but the particular one to which
these before the eyes of Klaas and Jan belonged, was the "parasite
kite," (_Milvus ater_), an inhabitant of all parts of the continent of
Africa, and a bird somewhat smaller than the royal kite of Europe.
Both these bird-boys knew that the birds were hawks of some kind, but
they could not tell what sort. When Hans told them that they were
"kites," they both became doubly interested; and, guns in hand, stood
near the water's edge watching the manoeuvres of the long-winged
fork-tailed creatures.
To a superficial observer it might have appeared that these kites were
merely playing themselves; now poised and hovering in the air, now
floating softly along, and at intervals shooting down until they
"dipped" themselves in the water of the stream. Any one, however, who
had closely watched them for a time would soon have perceived, that they
were not going through these manoeuvres for simple amusement. Each time
that one of them made a plunge into the water, it might be observed that
in rising again, it carried a shining object in its talons, which object
was neither more nor less than a tiny little fish. Fishing, then, was
what the "parasites" were after; and not for amusement, as anglers do,
but following it as a regular calling--in fact, following it for food.
Not that fish forms the only food of this species of lute. No; it will
eat almost any thing,--little quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, and even
carrion, upon a pinch. It is, however, very fond of fish; and, when it
chances to reside in a country of waters, where fish are plenteous and
easily procured, it follows the calling of a fisher pretty regularly.
Klaas and Jan stood for some time expecting to get a shot; but as none
of the birds came near enough, they at length gave up all hope, and laid
aside their guns.
Shortly after, dinner was ready, and all the boys sat down upon the
wagon-chests, and commenced eating. Their dinner that day consisted of
a very nice dish--that is, the flesh of the great South African bustard
(_Otis tarda_) or wild peacock, (wilde pauw,) as they themselves termed
the bird. Groot Willem had that morning shot this fine game, at very
long range, with his "roer;" and but for the far "carry" of his gun they
would not have procured the bird--for the wild peacock is one of the
shyest kinds of game-birds, and scarcely ever rests within shooting
distance of any cover by which it may be approached. Large as it is, it
is esteemed the most delicate eating of South African birds, and almost
equal to the wild turkey of America.
Now the young yagers had roasted this precious _morceau_, had carved it,
and each was sitting with a piece in hand--one with a wing, another
having the "drumstick," a third the "merrythought," a fourth the "pope's
nose," and so on. Of course they were in a high state of enjoyment over
such "titbits."
While engaged in this pleasant way, they were astonished to see the
whole flock of kites come suddenly swooping over the camp. Klaas and
Jan were the more astonished, since they had been for some half-hour
vainly endeavouring to get within shot of these very birds. _Now_ there
would have been no difficulty about that, for the parasites not only
came within shooting distance, but, actually and literally, flew _in the
very faces_ of the boys! Yes; they would swoop right up until within a
few feet of the diners, then poise themselves upon their wings, spread
out their tails, turn over on their backs, and execute sundry other
eccentric manoeuvres that put the six yagers into fits of laughter. Of
course Swartboy joined in the chorus, and even the grave Kaffir grinned
at the ludicrous spectacle.
But it did not end here. After a while the birds grew bolder and
bolder; at each swoop they came nearer; until at length several of them
actually snatched pieces of the bustard's flesh out of the very hands of
those that were eating it! Verily did they illustrate the old adage of
"many a slip between cup and lip."
Even the dogs were made victims of these bold little robbers, who
swooped forward to their very muzzles, and snatched at the bones they
were crunching.
This curious scene continued for some time. It would have ended sooner,
had the business been in the hands of Klaas and Jan. Both these boys,
at the first approach of the birds, had started up to get their guns,
but they were withheld from using them by the others, and especially by
Hans--who was desirous of observing these curious little hawks with the
eye of a naturalist.
After a while the bird-boys were allowed to "blaze away;" and, what is
still more singular, their repeated shots did not completely frighten
off the parasites, though several were killed! Even some that must have
been wounded--since the feathers had been knocked out of them--returned
again and again to hover above the camp, with eyes fixed eagerly upon
the scraps of meat that had been left lying upon the chests!
A little incident was yet to occur of a still more ludicrous character.
Hans had that day shot a pigeon of very beautiful plumage, which is
peculiar to the interior of South Africa, and whose wings and body are
of a deep green colour. This species is somewhat rare, and Hans was
desirous of preserving the skin and having it mounted. After dinner,
therefore, he had skinned it; and having thrown its flesh to the dogs,
he was still at work upon the skin, taking out the brains.
Klaas and Jan, satiated with sport, had desisted, and laid aside their
guns--the consequence of which was that the parasites had returned in
great numbers, and now exhibited as much effrontery as ever.
All at once, one of them seeing Hans engaged with the pigeon, and
thinking no doubt that the body of the bird was still in its skin, made
a sudden dash, drove its claw through the feathery mass, and carried off
the skin in triumph! Hans, whose eyes had been closely bent upon his
work, saw nothing of the approach of the little winged robber; and for
some moments believed that one of the boys, out of a "lark," had
snatched the pigeon from his fingers. It was not until he looked
around, and then up into the air, that he was aware of the real culprit;
and although all rushed to their guns, the pigeon-skin could not be
recovered--as the kite, on seizing it, rose high into the air, and then
carried it off to the other side of the river!
As not a bit of flesh remained in the skin, and as Hans had succeeded in
extracting even the brains, no doubt the parasite soon discovered that
his _pigeon_ was no better than a "decoy!"