African Hunter Published Books Campfire Tales Volume 2 of 20 | Page 8
over to some smooth moss covered rocks and sat. I took a long
drink from the canteen and looked about. The sun gave the area
a dappled appearance as it filtered and played through the canopy
overhead. Maybe I dozed, I cannot remember, but when I opened
my eyes, there was movement below me near the pool. A tiny
antelope was walking in jerky movements toward the water. He
seemed almost animated and unreal with his dark coat and shiny
black horns and eye. He reached the pool, lowered his head and
drank. I watched fascinated as he jerked his head up and the flying,
dripping water caught the sunlight and sparkled. It was magical.
I later learned he was a suni, one of the smallest forest dwelling
antelope found in Africa. For some reason, it had no fear as I was
sure it had seen my movement. It drank again and moved off in
those jerky movements as if attempting to imitate the sunlight and
shadows.
I again dozed because a rustling sound woke me. As I looked
up, at my feet, a porcupine was passing on the trail. He paid me
no heed but went to the pool, drank and slowly rattled away in
another direction.
I continued to watch. Soon the birds started to call and the
insects resumed their buzzing. I must have sat there for over an
hour and saw duiker, three female kudu, a genet, doves and an
African hawk eagle which all came to drink. All the time the scene
was that of inviting calmness and safety. I have been a trained
ecologist now for 35 years and do not hold much with the so-called
“spirit world”, but something hung over and around that place.
Something like a woodland sprite or so-called “Green Man”. It
was there protecting, and I might add, making it available for one
and all. There was an unspoken word or voice in my head, not to
harm or molest any creature in that umhombo.
Eventually I got up, collected my belongings and walked all
around the area which was about the size of a football field. There
Page 8
Afric ???!???5????????
???????Q?????Y?????Q?((0