NOTE.--_The spelling of Cape Dutch and native names is in many cases not
to be determined by recognised authority. The pronunciation cannot be
quite accurately suggested through the medium of English. The figures
of weights and measurements of animals are gathered from many sources,
and refer only to first-class specimens. The weights are necessarily
approximate_.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AASVOGEL (d), a vulture (_literally_. carrion bird).
ANT-BEAR, AARDVARK (d) (_Orycteropus jifer_).
ANT-HEAP, mound made by termites or `white ants.' Usually formed by one
colony of ants; about two to four feet in base diameter and height, but
often in certain localities very much larger. The writer photographed
one this year near the scene of the Last Hunt, eighteen feet base
diameter and ten feet high, and another in Rhodesia which formed a
complete background for a travelling waggonette and six mules. In both
cases these mounds were `deserted cities,' and trees, probably fifty to
one hundred years old, were growing out of them.
ASSEGAI (_pronounced_ ass-e-guy) (n), native spear.
BAAS (d), master.
BANSELA (_pronounced_ baan-se-la) (n), a present.
BEKER (_pronounced_ beaker) (d), a cup.
BILLY, a small tin utensil with lid and handle, used for boiling water.
BUCK-SAIL, tarpaulin used for covering transport waggons, which are
known as buck-waggons.
BUFFALO, Cape buffalo (_Bos Caffer_). Height, 5 feet 6 inches; weight,
possibly 1000 pounds; horns, 48 inches from tip to tip and 36 inches
each in length on curve.
BULTONG, or Biltong (_pronounced_ biltong) (n), meat cut in strips,
slightly salted, and dried in the open air.
BUSH BUCK, a medium-sized but very courageous antelope (_Tragelaphus
scriptus_). Height, 3 feet; weight, 130 pounds; horns (male only), 18
inches.
BUSH VELD, properly Bosch veld (d), bush country; also called Low Veld
and Low Country.
CANE-RAT (_Thryonomys swinderentanus_).
CETYWAYO (_see_ Ketshwayo).
CHAKA, properly Tshaka (n), the first of the great Zulu kings and
founder of the Zulu military power.
DASSIE (_pronounced_ daas-ey) (d), rock-rabbit; coney (_Procavia (Hyrax)
capensis_) (_literally_. little badger).
DINGAAN, properly Dingan (e) (n), the second of the great Zulu kings;
brother, murderer, and successor of Chaka.
DISSELBOOM (d), the pole of a vehicle.
DONGA (n), a gully or dry watercourse with steep banks.
DOUGH-BOYS, scones; frequently unleavened dough baked in coals; also
ash-cakes, roaster cookies, stick-in-the-gizzards, veld-bricks, etc.
DRIFT (d), a ford.
DUIKER (_pronounced_ in English dyker, in Dutch dayker) (d), a small
antelope found throughout Africa (_Cephalophus grimmi_). Gross weight,
30 to 40 pounds; height, 28 inches; horns, 5.5 inches. (_literally_
diver, so called from its habit of disappearing and re-appearing in low
scrub in a succession of bounds when it first starts running).
GO'WAY BIRD, the grey plantain eater (_Schizorbis concolor_).
HARTEBEESTE (_pronounced_ haar-te-beast) (d), a large antelope, of which
there are several varieties, varying in gross weight from 300 to 500
pounds; height, 48 inches; horns, 24 inches.
HIGH VELD, properly Hoogeveld (d), high country; the plateau, about 5000
to 6000 feet above sea-level.
HONEY-BIRD, the honey guide (several species; family, _Indicatoriae_).
HONEY-SUCKER, sun bird (several species; family, _Nectariniidae_).
HORSE-SICKNESS, a lung affection prevalent during summer in low-lying
parts; generally fatal; caused by microbes introduced in the blood by
some insect.
IMPALA (n), an antelope (_Aepyceros melampus_); habitat, Bushveld;
weight, 140 pounds; horns, up to 20 inches, straight.
IMPI (_pronounced_ impey) (n), an army or body of armed natives gathered
for or engaged in war.
INDUNA (_pronounced_ in-doo-nah) (n), a head-man, captain, or chief,
great or petty.
INKOS (_pronounced_ in-kos--`os' as in verbose) (n), chief; used as a
term of respect in address or salutation.
INSPAN, properly Enspan (d), to yoke up, harness up, or hitch up.
ISANDHL'WANA, also 'SANDHL'WANA, incorrectly Isandula (_pronounced_
saan-shle-waa-na), meaning `the little hand', the hill which gave the
name to the battle in which the 24th Regiment was annihilated in the
Zulu War, 1879.
KAFFIR CORN, sorghum.
KAHLE (_pronounced_ kaa-shle, corrupted in kitchen-Kaffir to `gaashly')
(n), gently, carefully, pleasantly, well. `Hamba kahle,' farewell, go
in peace. `Hlala (_pronounced_ shlala) kahle,' farewell, stay in peace.
KEHLA (_pronounced_ keh-shlaa) (n), a native of certain age and position
entitled to wear the head ring. Dutch, _ring kop_--ring head.
KERRIE, or KIRRIE, native sticks used for fighting, frequently knobbed;
hence, knob-kerrie.
KETSHWAYO (_pronounced_ ketsh-wy-o), incorrectly Cetywayo, fourth and
last of the great Zulu kings.
KLIPSPRINGER (d), a small antelope, in appearance and habit rather like
chamois (_Oreotragus saltator_) (_literally_. a rock-jumper).
KLOOF (d), a gorge.
KNEEHALTER (d), to couple the head to one fore leg by a reim or strap
attached to the halter, closely enough to prevent the animal from moving
fast.
KNOORHAAN, commonly, but incorrectly, Koorhaan or Koraan, (d), the
smaller bustard (_literally_ scolding cock).
KOODOO, properly KUDU (n) (_Strepsiceros capensis_). Habitat, rugged
bushy country. Height, 5 feet; weight, 600 pounds; horns, up to 48
inches straight, and 66 inches on curve.
KOPJE (_pronounced_ copy) (d), a hill (_literally_ a little head).
KRAAL (_pronounced_ in English crawl) (d), an enclosure for cattle,
sheep, etc, a corral; also a collection of native huts, the home of a
family, the village of a chief or tribe.
KRANS (d), often spelt KRANTZ (German) (D. _krans_, a circlet or crown),
a precipitous face or coronet of rock on a hill or mountain.
LAGAVAAN, a huge water lizard, the monitor. Cape Dutch, _lagewaan_
(pure Dutch, _laguaan_) (_Varanus niloticus_). Maximum length up to 8
feet.
LOOPER, round shot for fowling-piece, about four times the size of buck
shot.
MARULA, in Zulu UMGANO, a tree which furnishes soft white wood, which is
carved into bowls, spoons, etc; fruit eaten or fermented for drink
(_Sclerocarya caffra_).
MEERKAT (d), a small animal of the mongoose kind (properly applied to
_Suricata tetradactyla_, but loosely to several species).
MIDDLEVELD, properly MIDDELVELD (d), the mixed country lying between the
High veld and the Bushveld.
NEK-STROP (d), the neck-strap, or reim, which, attached to the
yokeskeys, keeps the yoke in place.
NIX (d), nothing (from D. _niets_).
ORIBI (n), a small antelope (_Ourebia scoparia_). Weight, 30 pounds;
height, 24 inches; horns, 6 inches.
OUTSPAN, properly UITSPAN (d), to unyoke or unharness; also the camp
where one has outspanned, and places where it is customary, or by law
permitted, to outspan.
PAUW (_pronounced_ pow) (d), the great bustard (_literally_ peacock).
PANDA, properly 'MPANDE (n), the third of the great Zulu kings.
PEZULU (n), on top, up, above.
PARTRIDGE, PHEASANT, names applied somewhat loosely to various species
of francolin.
POORT (_pronounced_ pooh-rt) (d), a gap or gorge in a range of hills
(_literally_ gate).
QUAGGA, ZEBRA (correctly applied to _Equus quagga_, now extinct, but
still applied to the various species of zebra found in South Africa).
REIM (_pronounced_ reem) (d), a stout strip of raw hide.
REIMPJE (_pronounced_ reempy) (d), a small reim.
RIETBUCK, properly (d) Rietbok (_pronounced_ reet-buck), reed buck
(_Cervicapra arundinum_). Height, 3 feet 6 inches; gross weight, 140
pounds; horns, male only, up to 16 inches.
SABLE ANTELOPE (_Hippotragus niger_; Dutch, _zwaart witpens_). Habitat,
bushveld. Height, 4 feet 6 inches; weight, 350 pounds; horns, up to 48
inches on curve.