A South African Tramp's Experience.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 134, 26 December 1885, Page 5

A South African Tramp's Experience.

A tramp who has wandered on foot over a large portion of South Africa, has recently given publicity to some of his novel experiences and adventures. On one occasion he had rambled beyond the bounds of civiliza. tion in the country of the Zulu Kafirs, and, getting near some native huts, he thus dcs crtbes a somewhat startling and unpleasant incident:— * "I had not gone far towards the kraal, when I was literally worried to inariness by myiiads of savage dogs. I had a long stick in my hand, and swung this round and round for ?ome minutes. I shouted at the top of my voice foy help, but the inmates did not hear me. Other dogs, hearing the tremendous barn ing, now joined the already startling numbers. I threw stones, swore, van here and there, gave a dog now and then a tremendous cut acros.his back, but I was not successful in frightening them away. Goaded to the utmost frenzy, I drew a long bowie-knife I had in my belt, gave a sort of war whoop, and rushed madly foi the nearest dog, plunging my weapon deep into its carcass ! The animal fell, and uttered a mournful cry. Wonderful to relate, this had the instantaneous effect of scattering the remainder to a considerable distance. 1 took the opportunity and ran for my very I life till I was out of leach both of dog? { and men. My trousers were torn to j pieces, and I had several nasty bites here and there, but only very slight Well, truly this had been a day ot adventure, but the grand finale had yet to happen. It must have been about nine o'clock at night when I found myself in a dark kloof, and a mealie n'eld on either sides of the road. Out of breath, thirsty, hungry, and very fatigued, I still continued at a biisk pace, feeling confident in reaching the Umzikulu ere long. Not a sound broke the stillness of the hour, while the darkness was intensely dense. While thus proceeding my attention was attracted towards a dark object apparently keeping pace with me, about twenty feefc distant, in the mealie field. I regarded it for a moment, and then endeavoured to dispel the idea of it being anything to be frightened at, and quickend my pace. I looked to the side again, and perceived it was apparently following me and getting closer. 1 stopped, not knowing what to expect Clenching my stick in the left hand, and keeping my bowie-knife in my right, I stood in the middle of the road and faced the thing. I saw it crouch, and then knew it to be an animal of some description. My hair stood on end; it seemed to be drawing nearer ! I then perceived a white patch I under the neck, saw its gleaming eyeballs and from the general contour, believed it to be a tiger cat. I gave a wild' halloo (my invariable plan when desperately alarmed), •v^hich echoed through the d&rk kloof. At that "instant -the animal 1 made, one long spring and fastened oil my legs? 1 ? Mechanically, tf 'stabbed it several jtimes in the necik j and* heaci, when it fell from my person all >feut' lifeless/ I jumped on it, struck it about j tKe'.hfaci'Withmy stick, andsnaade. sure of; its deathpby plttnging- my -sknife ; several timeslthrough' its body till^life seemed puite extinct." Vv „ %s% s