CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

GLOSSARY.

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.

SAKUBONA (n), Zulu equivalent of `Good-day.'

SALTED HORSE, one which has had horse-sickness, and is thus considered immune (as in small-pox); hence `salted' is freely used colloquially as meaning acclimatised, tough, hardened, etc.

SCHANS (_pronounced_ skaans) (d), a stone or earth breastwork for defence, very common in old native wars.

SCHELM (d), a rascal; like Scotch skellum.

SCHERM (_pronounced_ skarem) a protection of bush or trees, usually against wild animals.

SJAMBOK (_pronounced_ in English shambok, in Dutch saam-bok) (d), tapering raw-hide whip made from rhinoceros, hippopotamus, or giraffe skin.

SKEY (_pronounced_ skay), a yokeskey; short for Dutch _jukskei_.

SLOOT (d), a ditch.

SPAN (d), a team.

SPOOR (d), footprints; also a trail of man, animal, or vehicle.

SPRINGBUCK, properly SPRINGBOK (d), a small antelope (_Antidorcas (Gazella) euchore_). Habitat, high veld and other open grass country. Height, 30 inches; weight, up to 90 pounds; horns, 19 inches (literally. jumping buck).

SPRUIT (_pronounced_ sprait; also commonly, but incorrectly, sproot) (d), a stream.

SQUIRREL, or TREE Rat, native name 'MCHINAAND (_Funisciurus palliatus_).

STEMBUCK (Cape Dutch, _stembok_ or _steinbok_, from the pure Dutch _steenbok_, the Alpine ibex), a small antelope (_Raphicerus campestais_). Height, 22 inches; weight, 25 pounds; horns, 5 inches.

STOEP (_pronounced_ stoop) (d), a raised promenade or paved verandah in front or at sides of a house.

TAMBUKI GRASS, also TAMBOOKIE, and sometimes TAMBUTI (n), a very rank grass; in places reaches 15 feet high and stem diameter half inch.

TICK, or RHINOCEROS, BIRD, the `ox-pecker' (_Buphaga Africana_).

TIGER. In South Africa the leopard is generally called a tiger; first so described by the Dutch--_tijger_.

TOCK-TOCKIE, a slow-moving beetle, incapable of flight. Gets its name from its means of signalling by rapping the abdomen on the ground (_tenebrionid_ beetle of the genus _Psammodes_).

TREK (d) (_literally_ to pull), to move off or go on a journey; a journey, an expedition--_eg_, the Great Trek (or exodus of Boers from Cape Colony, 1836-48); also, and commonly, the time, distance, or journey from one outspan to another.

TREK GEAR, the traction gear, chain, yokes, etc, of a waggon. The Boer pioneers had no chains, and used reims plaited into a stout `rope'; hence _trek-touw_, or pulling-rope.

TSESSEBE, an antelope, one of the hartebeeste family (_Damaliscus lunatus_; Dutch, bastard hartebeeste). Height, 48 inches; weight. 300 pounds; horns, 15 inches.

TSETSE FLY, a grey fly, little larger than the common house-fly, whose bite is fatal to domesticated animals.

TWIGGLE, little people's word for the excited movement of a small dog's tail, believed to be a combination of wriggle and twiddle.

UMFAAN (n), a boy.

UMGANAAM (n), my friend.

UMLUNGU (n), the native word to describe a white man.

VELD (_pronounced_ felt) (d), the open or unoccupied country; uncultivated or grazing land.

VLEI (_pronounced_ flay) (d), a small, shallow lake, a swamp, a depression intermittently damp, a water meadow.

VOORLOOPER (d) (_literally_ front walker), the leader, the boy who leads the front oxen; the _pat'-intambu_ (Zulu for `take the reim').

VOORSLAG (_pronounced_ foor-slaach) (d) (_literally_ front lash or skin), the strip of buck hide which forms the fine end of a whip-lash.

WATERBUCK (_Cobus ellipsiprymnus_; Dutch, _kring-gat_). Height, 48 inches; weight, 350 pounds; horns, males only, 36 inches.

WILDEBEESTE (_pronounced_ vill-de-beast) (d) (_literally_ wild cattle), the brindled gnu, blue wildebeeste (_Connochaetes taurinus_). Height, 4 feet 6 inches; weight, 400 pounds; horns, 30 inches.

WILD DOG, the `Cape hunting dog' (_Lycaon pictus_).

WOODEN ORANGE, fruit of the klapper (a species of _Strychnos_).

WOLF, the usual name for the hyena, derived from _tijger-wolf_, the pure Dutch name for the spotted hyena.

YOKESKEY, the wooden slat which, coupled by nekstrops, holds the yoke in place.

End of Project Gutenberg's Jock of the Bushveld, by Percy FitzPatrick