i68 A HUNTER'S WANDERINGS ch. 



the grass, reeds, and worst of all, the sharp edges of 

 the shells of a sort of fresh-water mussel. Had I had 

 a small accurately-sighted Express rifle the result 

 would no doubt have been very different ; but it 

 must be remembered that my whole armoury con- 

 sisted of only two four-bore elephant guns, and a ten- 

 bore rifle, with scarcely any grooving, and for which I 

 had only spherical balls, which latter was the one I used 

 on this occasion. However, though unsuccessful so 

 far, I resolved that I would not quit the Chobe without 

 obtaining a good specimen of the head of one of these 

 rare and beautiful antelopes. When first they make 

 up their minds to run, these lechwe buck stretch out 

 their noses, laying their horns flat along their backs, 

 and trot like an eland, but on being pressed break 

 into a springing gallop, now and then bounding high 

 into the air like impalas. Even when in water up to 

 their necks they do not swim, but get along by a 

 succession of bounds with great rapidity, making a 

 tremendous splashing and general commotion. Of 

 course when the water becomes too deep for them to 

 bottom they are forced to swim, which they do well 

 and strongly, though not as fast as the natives can 

 paddle, and in the rainy season when the country is 

 flooded great numbers are driven into deep water and 

 speared before they can again reach the shallows where 

 they can touch ground. It is owing to their being thus 

 driven about and harried by the natives in canoes, 

 I suspect, that they are so wild, as I don't think they 

 can often have heard the sound of a gun before. 



On the following day, Monday, July 12, I again 

 parted from Mr. Garden, and started away westwards, 

 along the southern bank of the river, and soon find- 

 ing traces of elephants, turned ofi^ to make a recon- 

 naissance in the neighbouring jungles, but, though 



