THE SABLE ANTELOPE 267 



that clothe the rocks around, or adorning some grassy 

 clearing of the bush — no object in animate nature 

 can well surpass this magnificent creature. 



Cornwallis Harris first set eyes on the sable 

 antelope in the Cashan Mountains, now better 

 known as the Magaliesberg of the Transvaal; and 

 the feelings of so keen and appreciative a hunter 

 on sighting entirely unknown game may be readily 

 understood. Kather would he have possessed one 

 specimen, he tells us, than all the elephants in 

 Africa. Instantly he started in pursuit of the 

 herd, "nine chestnut-coloured does leading, and 

 two magnificent coal-black bucks bringing up the 

 rear." The first chase was, however, fruitless, and 

 the hunter, cursing his fate, rode back to camp for 

 a better weapon. Then, with his companion, taking 

 up the spoor, they followed their quarry with an 

 unquenchable ardour among the hills for the whole 

 of that and the following day. On the third day at 

 noon this extraordinary perseverance was rewarded ; 

 one of the jet-black bucks was wounded and brought 

 to bay, and, "twice charging gallantly, he was at 

 length overthrown and slain." The prize that thus 

 fell to Captain Harris after three days of incessant 

 anxiety and of burning toil, has ever since that time 

 been one of the most coveted trophies of South 

 African hunters. The Zwart-wit-pens was for years, 

 however, never found very abundantly, and, until 



