388 AFRICAN GAME ANIMALS 



gard of both Hon and hunter and, trusting In their speed 

 and agility — they knew that the Hon, unHke the human 

 hunter, was not dangerous at any distance — we have seen 

 a wildebeest staring unmoved at a lion and lioness at a 

 distance of sixty yards, although they obviously had de- 

 signs on him, and we saw a party of hartebeest galloping 

 along not far from, and paying no heed to, a lion we were 

 pursuing. But they were always on the watch, for even in 

 daytime the lion, leopard, cheetah, and hunting hound 

 sometimes assailed them, and at night they were, and 

 knew that they were, ever in danger, and were subject to 

 continual panics; one of the stock grievances of the set- 

 tlers is that in their continual wild stampedes at night the 

 zebra and hartebeest are always galloping through the wire 

 fences. Speaking generally, and having in view the numer- 

 ous qualifications above dwelt on, the wildebeest were the 

 shyest, and the little Tommy gazelles the tamest, of the 

 common plains game. The hartebeest were less shy than 

 the wildebeest, and when a mixed herd came to water the 

 hartebeest usually came first. We have seen a single 

 hartebeest lead a herd of wildebeest, whereas if the 

 mixed herd was composed of hartebeest and zebra either 

 might lead. A herd of unmixed wildebeest was generally 

 much shyer and more wary, both when grazing or rest- 

 ing and when going to water, than a herd of hartebeest 

 or zebra. 



In several different places we were able to study harte- 

 beest herds for some days at a time and get an accurate 

 idea of the routine of their daily lives. The striking facts are, 

 first, the simplicity and monotony of their lives, even when 

 in danger, and second, the amount of time spent in eating. 



