The first edition of this book is dated 1856. The edition used is dated 1884. The publisher was George Routledge and Sons, Limited, London, etc. The number of pages is 471.

---

General information

This is not quite your usual style of book by Mayne Reid. We are used to books about the Mexican War, and similar topics, books where there are plenty of words and expressions in Mexican-Spanish. In this book there are equally plenty of words and expressions in Africaans, the variety of Dutch spoken originally by the Boers (Boors in this book), the Dutch farmers.

The book is a very good introduction to the animals, both mammals and birds, of South Africa. The snakes get a mention, too. Several very tense moments are built up, and you will be wondering right up to the very last moment how whoever is involved in the story, is going to get out of the situation. Recommended as perhaps one of the best books by this prolific author.

---

Contents

Chapter I.
The Boors.

Chapter II.
The “Kraal.“

Chapter III.
The “Springhaan.“

Chapter IV.
A talk about Locusts.

Chapter V.
The Locust-Flight.

Chapter VI.
“Inspann and Trek!“

Chapter VII.
“Water! Water!“

Chapter VIII.
The fate of the Hero.

Chapter IX.
A Lion “Couchant.“

Chapter X.
A Lion in the Trap.

Chapter XI.
The Death of the Lion.

Chapter XII.
A talk about Lions.

Chapter XIII.
The travellers benighted.

Chapter XIV.
The “Trek-Boken.“

Chapter XV.
Spooring for a Spring.

Chapter XVI.
The terrible “Tsetse.“

Chapter XVII.
The Long-Horned Rhinoceros.

Chapter XVIII.
A heavy combat.

Chapter XIX.
The Death of the Elephant.

Chapter XX.
Turned Hunters.

Chapter XXI.
“Jerking” an Elephant.

Chapter XXII.
The hideous Hyena.

Chapter XXIII.
Stalking the Ourebi.

Chapter XXIV.
Little Jan’s Adventure.

Chapter XXV.
A chapter upon Hyenas.

Chapter XXVI.
A house among the tree-tops.

Chapter XXVII.
The battle of the wild peacocks.

Chapter XXVIII.
Upon the “Spoor.“

Chapter XXIX.
A rogue Elephant.

Chapter XXX.
The missing hunter, and the Wildebeests.

Chapter XXXI.
The Ant-Eater of Africa.

Chapter XXXII.
Hans chased by the Wildebeest.

Chapter XXXIII.
Besieged by the Bull.

Chapter XXXIV.
A helpless beast.

Chapter XXXV.
The elephant’s sleeping-roost.

Chapter XXXVI.
Making the elephant’s bed.

Chapter XXXVII.
The Wild-Asses of Africa.

Chapter XXXVIII.
Planning the capture of the Quaggas.

Chapter XXXIX.
The Pit-Trap.

Chapter XL.
Driving in the Eland.

Chapter XLI.
A wild ride on Quagga-back.

Chapter XLII.
The Gun-Trap.

Chapter XLIII.
The Weaver-Birds.

Chapter XLIV.
The Spitting-Snake.

Chapter XLV.
The Serpent-Eater.

Chapter XLVI.
Totty and the Chacmas.

Chapter XLVII.
The wild hounds and the Hartebeest.

Chapter XLVIII.
Conclusion.

---