HARTEBEESTE 65 
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HARTEBEESTE (Bubalis caama). 
The true Hartebeeste of South Africa—often called by the Boers 
the Rooi (red) Hartebeeste, to distinguish it from the Tsessebe (Bastard 
Hartebeeste or Zulu Hartebeeste of the Dutch hunters) and Lichten- 
stein’s Hartebeeste—is still, thanks to its wariness, speed, and desert- 
loving habits, fairly abundant in many of its ancient haunts. A few 
still linger in the old Bechuanaland country in the north-west of Cape 
Colony. Although practically exterminated in the Orange Free State 
and in most of the Transvaal (except to the north-west), plenty of 
Hartebeeste are to be found in the pleasant country—partly plains, partly 
open forest—of British Bechuanaland and the Bechuanaland Protectorate. 
In the North Kalahari and the desert regions about the Botletli River, 
big troops are to be met with. The Hartebeeste is an extremely good 
sporting animal, enormously fleet and enduring, and not by any means 
easy to bring to bay. Its flesh is very palatable, and its brilliant coat 
much sought after by the native tribes. 
This Antelope is probably the best known one of the group, 
a living example of which is generally to be found in our Zoological 
Gardens. It was until the last few years most numerous, but owing to 
the rapid growth of civilisation has become one of the rare animals 
of South Africa. 
HEIGHT at withers about 48 inches. 
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