The mouth is an oblong square (the only square thing made by the Bechuanas, for every thing else is round), and the long diameter at the surface is about equal to the depth.

The decreasing width toward the bottom is intended to make the animal wedge himself more firmly in by his weight and struggles.

The pitfalls are usually in pairs, with a wall a foot thick left uncut between the ends of each, so that if the beast, when it feels its fore legs descending, should try to save itself from going in altogether by striding the hind legs, he would spring forward and leap into the second with a force which insures the fall of his whole body into the trap.

They are covered with great care.

All the excavated earth is removed to a distance, so as not to excite suspicion in the minds of the animals.