CHAPTER XVIII 



THE HARTEBEEST IN SOUTH AFRICA 



A characteristic South African Antelope — Vigilance, fleet- 

 ness, and staying powers — Still plentiful north of Orange 

 River — Bechuana cloaks — Boer names — Ancient and pre- 

 sent habitat — Independent of water for long periods — Love 

 of brack-pans — Hartebeests in British Bechuanaland — In 

 Ngamiland — Description and peculiarities — Hartebeest 

 hunting — Chased and killed by wild hunting-dogs — 

 Flesh — Specimens in Zoological Gardens — Other forms 

 of Hartebeest. 



Of all the plain-frequenting antelopes that still 

 adorn the veldt of Southern Africa, the hartebeest 

 (Alcelajohtts caama) — although not the most hand- 

 some — is certainly one of the most characteristic. 

 It personifies some of the most remarkable points 

 of the true antelope character. It is wary and 

 vigilant to a degree, and, upon the open grassy 

 plains, where it is so often to be found, it is ex- 

 tremely difficult to approach. It is possessed of 

 immense fleetness and staying powers. In all Africa 

 there is only one other mammal — the tsesseby, a 



nearly allied species — which can vie with it in these 

 225 Q 



