steady shot at two hundred yards. The | plovers, jackals, and hyenas begin their
bullet clapped as if on a barn door, and cries. At this outspan, where we re-
as the troop continued their flight, I mained some time, we often heard the
saw one zebra turn away alone. Pres- cry of zebras as they trekked to the
ently she stood again. I was soon river under cover of night. A good
within sixty yards, and with another many wildebeest also came past not far
bullet finished her. She proved to be from the wagons.
a fine mare in beautiful coat, and her
head and skin now decorate a room at
home.

I quickly lighted a grass fire to attract the Bushmen, and, Joseph having cantered up, we set to work to skin the prize. Dove, who was thrown out, made for camp alone, securing on his way a springbok.

On the 22nd we were down at the Lagoons after duck and geese, and after wading about for half the day nearly up to our armpits, came home with a huge bag.

On the 24th, having crossed to the forest again, Dove shot an enormous old bull giraffe, the biggest of our trip, measuring all but nineteen feet in height. Having had good sport with springbok, lechwé, etc., till July 28, we left Masinya's Kraal, and trekked for Sebituane's Drift higher up the river.

We were up very early on the morning of the 29th, preparing for another campaign against giraffe. After breakfast, just as the sun rose, Dove, standing on my wagon-box, looked out to the south-east for game, using a very powerful stalking-glass, which he rested on the wagon tilt. Half a mile away he saw, stringing across the veldt, a dark line of blue wildebeest (brindled gnu), evidently trekking from the river back to the flats. It was a most inspiring sight. There were about thirty-five of them, mostly full-grown bulls, many of them very heavy ones, as their massive shaggy fronts plainly indicated. Having enjoyed a prolonged inspection, we saddled-up hastily, buckled on spurs, got out our rifles, and went after them, the Bushmen following.

The

We rode quietly until within three hundred yards, when the herd became disturbed, and tossing their heads and whisking their long tails they lumbered off at a heavy gallop, which, however, is much faster than it looks. heavy, roman-nosed, buffalo-like head, and the quantity of mane and hair about the neck, throat, and face, all tend to create the wild, cumbrous aspect which the bulls of this singular antelope wear.

After crossing the usual heated, yellow plains, looking for all the world like an expanse of over-parched hayfields, and dotted here and there with droves of springbok, we outspanned two miles off the river at some water-pits in the middle of open veldt. There were springbok grazing quietly around us as the sun set, and a big belt of tall leafy motjecrie - trees, with their oak-like growth, standing on the farther side of Dove and I were mounted to-day on the river, gave welcome relief to the our best nags, he on his favorite Duneye in that direction. The sunsets on boy-a mouse-colored pony with black the plains were very gorgeous. A vast points, a little wonder after game - I amber vault of sky after the sun dipped; on a capital chestnut, surnamed Giltthen a wonderful after-glow of still boy; and the ponies presently catching more brilliant yet translucent yellow. sight of the game, we touched them Below the light stretched the sea of lightly with the spur and raced our grassy plain, now toned to a greyish- hardest, hoping to get within hail of the yellow, with the cattle, horses, and gnu in one sharp spurt. As we ran side springboks standing in sharp relief. by side at full gallop my comrade's nag Anon the yellow glow changes to a nar- unexpectedly put his foot in a hole, and, row arc of ruddy orange below a pale with his rider, came down a most imblue-green sky, and then darkness falls perial crowner. I pulled up for a secupon the solemn veldt, and the nightond, but Dove, although half-stunned,

motioned me to go on, and, as the
Bushmen were running behind, I set
my horse going again. After a long and
most exciting chase, in which I only
prevented the wildebeest from entering
the bush by sending a bullet or two in
front of them, thus turning them, I got
within two hundred and fifty yards as
they stood, and hit a good bull, which,
after myself getting a heavy fall, I
secured at short range.
I found him
a fine full-grown bull, with a good
head. Meanwhile, Dove and the Bush-
men had come up, and, having cut off
the head for preservation, I left the
boys to bring in the meat. Dove was
in great pain from an injury to his side,
and although we rode on and I picked
up the troop again with the idea of
turning the wildebeest to my comrade,
we had no more sport that day.

good old days when game swarmed in countless thousands.

Gnu or gnoo is merely the old Hottentot name of the white-tailed species, which subsequently clung to both animals. The Hottentot designation for the brindled gnu was kaop, signifying baas or master. The blue wildebeest has plenty of pace and great staying power, and it takes a good horse indeed to run into a troop.

From this point in the trek Dove was confined by his injuries (a broken rib) to the wagon for some days, and could not bear to sit a horse for a fortnight. Our journey to Lake N'Gami (some days further on) was therefore abandoned, and I contented myself with making expeditions with Joseph and the Bushmen in various directions, in which we had excellent sport with giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, and springbok. My companion recovered sufficiently to enjoy one good hunt on the return journey, when we killed four elands out of a big troop found in the middle of the Kalahari, and afterwards lost ourselves in dense bush for eighteen hours without water. a most unpleasant experi

ence.

The brindled gnu is assuredly one of the most eccentric of nature's creations, even in Africa. Some naturalists have catalogued its points in this wise the head of a buffalo, body and tail of a horse, with the legs of an antelope. This is not accurate, for the blue wildebeest and its grotesque cousin, the white-tailed gnu, although standing alone in the animal kingdom, are true I walked from this outspan to the antelopes. The brindled gnu (Catoble- river on the day following Dove's inpas gorgon, kokoon of the Bechuanas) jury, and striking it not far from Seis in color of a bluish-drab, having bituane's Drift, came to a high bank, brindles or stripes of a darker shade below which a broad and stately stream, upon the neck and fore-quarters. It three hundred yards in breadth (a can hardly be classed as dangerous stream surpassing every other watergame; yet a wounded bull is not to be way south of the Zambesi), flowed in approached carelessly on foot, his sharp deep, majestic volume slowly to the hook-like horns rendering him an awk- south-east. Here and there a crocodile ward customer, as many a slain dog has might be discerned floating log-like on testified. The range of this antelope the surface. Some Makoba fishermen extends widely over Central South put across in a dug-out canoe from the Africa, but is, curiously enough, not reeds on the farther side, and, having prolonged north of the Equator. The my camera with me, I seized the opporwhite-tailed gnu (Catoblepas gnu, black tunity to take some photographs of wildebeest of the Dutch), now approach- these singular people, and of this beauing extinction, was much more circum-tiful reach on the Botletli, hitherto virscribed in its habitat. It was formerly gin to the camera. These Makobas, inordinately plentiful on the karroos of tributary to Khama and Moremi, are Cape Colony and, the plains of the essentially a race of fishermen and of Orange Free State, but seldom ranged boatmen. They live in small reed vilnorth of the Vaal River. On the other hand, the brindled gnu was rarely found south of the Orange River, even in the

lages upon the banks of the river, and are most expert fishers, whether with net or with hook and line. I found

them baiting their hooks with mice and
a kind of small rat- a novel kind of
lure to me. Here they catch principally
the barbel I have mentioned, and a
kind of bream.

From The Spectator.

THE CHILDREN AT THE GUILDHALL. THE end of last week saw a new departure in the famous hospitality of the City. The feasting of ministers and Near Sebituane's Drift—where Liv-judges was only a prelude to the more ingstone's favorite chief, Sebituane, anxious work which was to follow. crossed the river in his conquering ca- The lord mayor had been pleased to reer northward-Khama's country ends, invite two thousand little boys and girls and the territory of the lake chief, Mo- from the ancient schools of the City remi, begins. Moremi died soon after wards to spend the evening at the our sojourn on the Botletli, and Sek- Guildhall. homi, his young son, now reigns in his stead.

For there are children in the City, many of them the sons and daughters of the permanent garrison, As to the mysterious overflow of the the housekeepers and watchmen, who Botletli in mid-winter- the dry season keep ward over the City by night, born in Africa—the capabilities and pros- in the rules of the City, taught in its pects of its immense and undoubtedly schools, christened in its churches. It rich alluvial lands, and the various was a fresh and kindly thought; but tribes upon its course, they are vast there was risk in its novelty. The hossubjects, and require space whereon to pitality of the Guildhall has a reputation enlarge. It is certain that the Botletli to lose. It might fête a monarch to and N'Gami country have a great future the skies, yet fail to satisfy a child. in the production of grain, tobacco, cot-But a battle well planned is half-won, ton, rice, coffee, sugar, and many other and when a master of the revels was crops. The people are friendly, peace- found in the same kindly lieutenant of able, and fairly industrious after their the City who had ordered each detail lights. Sooner or later it must fall to for the reception of the German emthe lot of N'Gamiland to be exploited peror, it was felt that the reputation of by Europeans; but in this exploitation the Guildhall was in safe hands. It the hard fact has to be faced that, for was understood that the Guildhall was at least four months in the year, fever to be placed at the disposal of the chilof a nature very deadly to the white dren, and not the children at the disman prevails. It is true that malaria posal of the Guildhall; and, conscious yields to the advances of civilization; of this great surrender, the entertainers but the fever-stricken districts of N'Ga-awaited the coming of their guests. It miland and the Zambesi Valley are was an anxious moment. The boys hardly likely, I fear, to become portions marched up in battalions, with their of a habitable South Africa within the band playing, to the gates, stern and lifetime of living people. resolute as if to the breach of some We had, on the whole, fair sport fallen city. They were in no mood for (thirty-eight head of game in a month's trifling. The lord mayor had asked shooting, besides a great variety of them; they had come. Had Gog and feathered game), but it must be remem- Magog blocked the road, they would bered that the nobler animals, even in have sounded the trumpet and won these remote regions, are fast disap- their way by battle. But the lord pearing, and can only now be obtained by long days of severe toil under a burning sun, and by downright hard work. South Africa is no longer the undisturbed playground of a superabundant fauna, and each year sees the gallant game more and more difficult of access. H. A. BRYDEN.

from

mayor's magic had already gained the day. The gates flew open unchallenged, and through long lines of smiling giants - the City police to wit-the children marched in silent and expectant bands into the enchanted castle. In five minutes the set faces relaxed, in five more they had found out that every one was their friend, and from that moment the

formed exploring parties, and the galleries and chambers were full of laughing, chatting groups, admiring the pictures, criticising and exchanging information as to the statues of Welling

was

palace of the City, with all its "gallant, | the small guests to absorb all their atgay domestics," was theirs, wholly and tention. They clearly came for society, completely, for the night. Every gal- as well as to look on. Groups of friends lery and hall was open; genial policemen and benign beadles pointed out the way; and beautiful waiters from the Albion, in dress-coats and white waistcoats, seasoned their service at the buffets with an extra measure of good-ton, Nelson, and, above all, of Mr. will and courtesy. The venison and Irving-every London child seems a turtle of the previous banquet were not born playgoer or chatting with the more enjoyed than the children's fare. visitors and " grown-ups." The conAnd those of them who had a nice taste stables on duty in the vestibules were in cake and lemonade and sandwiches, constant referees when differences of remarked on the strange difference be- opinion arose as to the building and its tween these things as provided else- contents. One little girl was so fortuwhere, or served from the table of the nate as to know several policemen lord mayor. "Sensible little dears," she knew them "at home," at Tower remarked an approving waiter to the Hill a social advantage, which writer, "they know well enough what's not lost on her schoolfellows. But as good and what isn't; and the nicest be- the hour for the lord mayor's arrival haved children, - help themselves and drew on, all other curiosity gave way to look after the others just like grown- the desire to see the giver of the feast. ups, and know when they have had The children ran down in little groups enough a good deal better." Is any one and companies, and waited in the vesticurious to know the menu selected by bule. The city marshal, in scarlet, a small child at the Guildhall? Here it cocked-hat and feathers, arrived early. is, as accurately stated by one of "three Was he the lord mayor ? “No, can't little girls from school" (Sir John Cass's you see he wears his sword ? School in the Jewry), who, with their lord mayor's sword is so big he has a arms round each other's necks, were gentleman to carry it for him,” said a gazing with high approval on the tall more instructed guest. Even to the and gorgeous figure of the lord mayor's announcement of the lord mayor's combeadle: "I had one bun, some bread-ing, the children remained masters of and-butter, a cup of tea, a glass of the hall. Three little boys, big with the ginger-beer, two biscuits, and a big importance of their office, stepped unapplc." This seemed the general choice of the girls. The boys seemed to think cake infra dig. But the sausage-rolls were stated to be good, so was the lemonade, so were the sandwiches, so was everything. They felt that criticism of the cuisine was expected in the Guildhall, and were ready to express their approval frankly. But even at first the 66 entertainments proved strong rivals to the piled-up tables. "Some went to get refreshments," remarked one boy. "I went to see the niggers, and the performing pony, and the Punch and Judy, and the little dogs boxing. They boxed very well," said this knowing pugilist.

But the set amusements, though voted capital fun, were not allowed by

-

The

der the narrow archway, and there on trumpets blew a fanfare, which echoed under the stone ribs of the vault, and brought all the curious crowd-two thousand strong—into the central hall. There the children mustered under the banners of their wards the banner of the Tower; the banner of Bridge Ward, the lord mayor's special territory; the banner of Castle Baynard, with a picture of the lost city fortress emblazoned on its silk; while the lieutenant of the city in his uniform, not less happy in his entertainment of children than when ordering the reception of the German emperor himself, prayed that every grown-up man and woman present would leave the hall for the great library, and there witness the meeting

floor on which they sat, Sir Richard Whittington had a great fire made, after feasting King Edward and his prisoner, King John of France, after the battle of Crecy, and then and there cast into the blaze his king's bonds for £60,000, the quick children of London broke the silence by their cheers, and seemed to realize in a moment that they were making, and to make, a link in the history of their city and their land. But neither the enjoyment of the present, nor the associations of the past, could dim their delight in the giver of the feast. "He makes a very good lord mayor, don't you think?" was the last anxious question we heard from a twelve-year-old son of the City.

of the children and the right honorable | Whittington, and admire the beauty of
the lord mayor. There must have been the cat, and the awful size and ferocity
something not common in the contrast of the rats of the Plantagenet era.
of pageantry and pomp with homely Yet even these monsters had no ter-
kindness and good-will; the meeting of rors for the City children of to-day.
honor and maturity with honesty and "What,” asked an inquiring elder of a
childhood- or why did men's eyes tiny boy, "What would you do if rats
glisten and women's, as we thought, fill like that came on to your bed?"
with something like to tears, as the "Catch 'em," was the whispered, but
tall, grey-bearded, and benevolent chief | undaunted answer. Then, as the story-
of the City, in his black Rembrandt hat teller went on to say how, on that very
and feather, and robes of scarlet and
sable, stood in the centre of the sump-
tuous line of sheriffs, swords, and
maces, bending in grave and kindly an-
swer to the salutes of the long lines of
happy children? Strange, also, how the
children realized for themselves that
now was the time to show their cour-
tesy; that they were part of an event,
a public ceremony, and must play their
part with state. The boys had resumed
the solemnity which marked their first
entry. As the blare of the "March in
Scipio" went crashing through the
roofs, they walked in ordered ranks up
to the daïs, and saluted the mayor, the
sheriffs, and the ladies with a grave
punctilio which would have become a
regiment of dons; and so, marching
in time and endless procession, they
vanished without a sound into the cor-
ridors beyond. Perhaps in their rapid
military obeisance the boys had the
advantage of their sisters; for curt-
seys "take time to be made with grace;
and time was precious, with a real lord
mayor waiting to share the common
enjoyment of a magic lantern and
"Dick Whittington," a prospect so in-
toxicating and delightful that one pair
of tiny girls danced across the stage
before all that august company. And
then we
"back to the Guildhall again,
and all very merry as Mr. Pepys
would say; and the lord mayor made a
kind little speech, in which he regretted
that he could not shake hands with
them all, but that it would have taken
too much time, and he wanted to go
to bed early; at which his audience
laughed incredulous; and then the com-
pany sat down in thousands on the
floor to see the magic lantern, and take
example by the civic virtues of Dick

66

From The Gentleman's Magazine. ODD ITEMS IN OLD CHURCHES.

THERE are odd items in many of our old churches of which we are quite unaware; and there are many others which, though seen, we pass by with scarcely a glance at them for want of understanding their meaning or use.

The penitential cell in the Temple Church is one such. High up in the thickness of the north wall, looking down, through two narrow openings, upon the magnificent rotunda, with its mystic circle of porphyry columns and effigies of cross-legged knights lying full-length on the glistening pavement, and into the long chancel, is a small stone cell, too short for a man to lie down in at full length, and too low for him to stand upright in, in which recusants were confined for penance. A narrow stone stair winds up till it arrives at the small, strong, low door of