CAPE HARTEBEEST 105 



Bushmanland, where a few troops are now and again encountered. In 

 Natal they are now very rare, and only to be seen on certain farms, 

 where they are carefully protected. North of the Orange river it may 

 be doubted whether any hartebeests are to be found in the Orange 

 River Colony ; while in the western and northern Transvaal, where 

 they were once abundant, they are extremely scarce. In Griqualand 

 West, thanks to some measure of protection, they are, however, 

 found sparingly in the wilder and more remote districts ; while 

 Bechuanaland and the eastern fringe of the Kalahari have always been 

 most favourite resorts of these antelopes. Here, on the wide grassy 

 plains, alternating with stretches of level, grassy, thinly forested country, 

 hartebeests were exceedingly plentiful, and are still to be found, 

 although naturally at the present day in numbers far fewer than of old. 

 Still, even in British Bechuanaland, upon the eastern edge of the 

 Lower Kalahari, fair-sized troops of these antelopes may now and 

 again be encountered ; while in Khama's country, especially the 

 western portions, the deserts of the Kalahari, and the plains and salt- 

 pans of the Botletli river, hartebeests exist in considerable numbers. 

 The Mababi river and Lake Ngami form their limit to the north, as 

 does the Serule river to the east. 



" Seldom found in thickly bushed country, these antelopes frequent 

 what may be termed typical Bechuana country, that is to say, wide 

 grassy plains, alternating with open forests, where small patches of bush 

 and forest trees offer shelter from the winds and frosts of winter and 

 the blaze of the summer sun. In British Bechuanaland they seem to 

 prefer the more park-like country to the open plains, probably for the 

 reason that in such situations they more easily find shelter from the 

 hunter. In Khama's country, farther north, they are more frequently 

 seen on open grassy flats, near which they can find harbour among 

 forest and thin bush. They are capable of existing for long periods — 

 weeks, and perhaps even months — without drinking ; some of the 

 troops in the north Kalahari having little or no chance of finding 

 surface-water during the rainless period of the South African winter, 

 that is to say, in the months of June, July, and August. They are 

 exceedingly fond of licking at the salt-bracks or pans, so common in 

 South Africa ; and, even in British Bechuanaland, where they are in 

 much greater danger from night- shooting than farther north, will 

 venture to do so night after night. 



" When first disturbed and moving at a slow pace, hartebeests 

 are deceptive ; their drooping quarters, somewhat heavy aspect, and 

 apparently sluggish action giving them a mule-like appearance, so that 



