THE HARTEBEEST IN SOUTH AFRICA 237 



bands in many parts of South Africa, runs down 

 successfully, time after time, even the fleet and 

 enduring hartebeest. These terrible wild hounds 

 hunt in the most cunning and systematic fashion. 

 They turn out a buck from the troop and drive their 

 quarry in wide rings. Relays of the pack, which is 

 often very numerous, take up the chase at different 

 points, and in the end even the fleetest and strongest 

 antelopes of the veldt are remorselessly pulled down, 

 torn to pieces, and devoured. The hounds are them- 

 selves singularly stout runners, the leaders press up 

 to the buck, take a snap or two at its flanks, belly, 

 and hind-legs, and fall back. They are succeeded as 

 they tire by others, and at last, usually after a pro- 

 longed chase, the buck, already terribly mauled and 

 torn, becomes exhausted, and falls a victim. I once 

 saw at break of dawn, west of the Botletli, a pack 

 of these hounds hunting a koodoo. They halted as 

 they passed my wagon, and indulged in a prolonged 

 and very cheeky stare. They are singularly fearless 

 creatures. 



The flesh of the hartebeest is fairly palatable, 

 darkish in colour, and makes good biiltong (sun- 

 dried flesh), though not so good as the biiltong of 

 springbok or koodoo. 



The Zoological Society have exhibited for the last 

 year or two a pair of South African hartebeests, both 

 of them very good and representative specimens, so 



