CH. xi] ELANDS 269 



table. The country alternated between bare plains and 

 great stretches of sparse, stunted thorns. We saw 

 zebra and two or three bands of oryx ; big, handsome 

 antelope strongly built and boldly coloured, with long 

 black, rapier-like horns. They were very wary, much 

 more so than the zebra with which they associated, and 

 we could not get anywhere near them. 



Next day I hunted along tJie edges of a big swamp. 

 We saw waterbuck, but were unable to get within shot. 

 However, near the fartlier end of the swamp, in an open 

 swale, we found foin- eland feeding. The eland is the 

 king of antelope ; and not only did I desire meat for 

 camp, but 1 wished the head of a good bull as a trophy 

 for myself, the ehuid I had hitherto shot being for the 

 National Museum. The little band included a big bull, 

 a small bull, and two cows. At a distance the big bull 

 looked slaty blue. The great sleek handsome creatures 

 were feeding in the long grass just like cattle, switching 

 their long tails at the Hies. The country looked like a 

 park, with clumps of thorn-trees scattered over the 

 grassy sw^ard. (Carefully I crept on all-fours from tree- 

 clump to tree-clump, trying always to move w^hen the 

 elands" heads w^ere down grazing. At last I was within 

 three hundred yards, when one of the cow^s caught a 

 glimpse of me and alarmed the others. They were 

 startled, but puzzled, and, after trotting a few rods, 

 turned to stare at the half-seen object of their alarm. 

 Rising to my knee, 1 shot the big bull in the throat as, 

 with head erect, he gazed in my direction. Off he w^ent 

 with a rush, the others bounding and leaping as they 

 accompanied him, and we followed on the blood spoor. 

 Bakhari and Gouvimali trotted fast on the trail, and in 

 order to be fresh for the shot 1 mounted Tranquillity. 

 Suddenly out bounced the wounded bull from some 



