CH. Ml] A HERD OF TOPI 159 



face, and queerly shaped horns ; while tlie topi, althou^li 

 with a general hartebeest look, has the features of shape 

 and horn less pronounced, and bears a greater resem- 

 blance to his more ordinary kinsfolk. In the same way, 

 though it will now and tlien buck and plunge when it 

 begins to run after being startled, its demeanour is less 

 pronounced in this respect. The topi's power of leap- 

 ing is great. I have seen one, when frightened, bound 

 clear over a companion, and immediately afterward over 

 a higli anthill. 



The herd of topi we saw was more shy than the 

 neighbouring zebra and hartebeest. There was no 

 cover, and I spent an hour trying to walk up to them 

 by manoeuvring in one way and another. They did not 

 run clear away, but kept standing and letting me 

 approach to distances varying from four hundred and 

 fifty to six hundred yards, tempting me to shoot, while, 

 nevertheless, I coidd not estimate the range accurately, 

 and was not certain whether I was over or under- 

 shooting. So I fired more times than I care to mention 

 before I finally got my topi — at just five hundred and 

 twenty yards. It was a handsome cow, weighing two 

 hundred and sixty pounds, for topi are somewhat 

 smaller than kongoni. The beauty of its coat, in 

 texture and colouring, struck me afresh as I looked at 

 the sleek creature stretched out on the grass. Like the 

 eland, it M-as free from ticks, for the hideous pests do 

 not frequent this part of the country in any great 

 numbers. 



I reached camp early in the afternoon, and sat down 

 at the mouth of my tent to enjoy myself. It was on 

 such occasions that the " pigskin library " proved itself 

 indeed a blessing. In addition to the original books 

 we had picked up one or two old favourites on the 



