. Wild game in Zambezia . thebanks of the River Zambezi are the same in allrespects as those found throughout South andEast Central Africa, namely, the large, dis-proportionately-headed, warthog, and the com-paratively gaily-marked, guinea-pig-like bushpigof the somewhat higher elevations. Warthogs are almost invariably found infamilies, and have an extremely happy, easy-going faculty which enables them to make them-selves quite at home in practically any part ofthe country, high or low, forest or plain. Theyare most entertaining animals to watch, and, ifproper caution be exercised, are usuall
. Wild game in Zambezia . thebanks of the River Zambezi are the same in allrespects as those found throughout South andEast Central Africa, namely, the large, dis-proportionately-headed, warthog, and the com-paratively gaily-marked, guinea-pig-like bushpigof the somewhat higher elevations. Warthogs are almost invariably found infamilies, and have an extremely happy, easy-going faculty which enables them to make them-selves quite at home in practically any part ofthe country, high or low, forest or plain. Theyare most entertaining animals to watch, and, ifproper caution be exercised, are usually far toomuch engrossed in the preoccupations of themoment to mark the presence of a hostile in-fluence. In the cultivated areas, especially whereroots are grown and ground-nuts planted, wart-hogs are a terrible pest. They will travel dailyfrom their sleeping-places and cover many milesto reach some well-known garden, where theyplough up the ground and create amazing love especially loose, sandy, friable soil,. THE WARTHOG 221 wherein they root with their snouts for tubersand other subterranean food, but I have quite asoften found them in marshy swamps, apparentlyequally contented with these damp surroundings,which enable them to take a daily mud-bath, ofwhich they are passionately fond. As noonapproaches, if undisturbed and well fed, they willmake for some conveniently situated sand-pit,either shaded or unshaded, where they will roll,afterwards resting until the cool of the several occasions I have come upon largefamilies lying fully extended, or with legs in theair, in the surroundings described, exposed to thefull force of the suns rays. In the late afternoonthey seek for food again, and drink shortly beforesunset. In appearance the warthog, as will be seenfrom the accompanying illustration, is almost thelast word of picturesque ugliness. I do not knowwhat a well-grown boar may weigh, but considerit probable that when cleaned he may turn thescale at 180
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectg, booksubjecthunting
