CHAP. III. ELAND. 157 



the river Sutu, though existing in considerable numbers in 

 many spots to the north of it. The Dutch misnomer for 

 them is Bastard Hartebeest, though I could never see any 

 resemblance that could justify the name. Their average 

 size may be taken as about five feet six inches long from 

 the base of the horns to the root of the tail, and four feet 

 in height at the withers, and their colour is a dark, pur- 

 plish red, the hair coarse and almost black along the mane, 

 becoming lighter towards the flanks, and the horns, 

 which are small — being seldom over a foot in length — 

 strongly resembhng those of a young reed-buck ra.m. 

 They are found in scattered thorns, generally in small 

 groups of from two to ten head, and never enter covers. 

 I do not consider them a difficult antelope to shoot for a 

 good rifle shot, as standing chances at from one hiuidred 

 and fifty yards to two hundred yards are easy to obtain, 

 and they will often allow one to walk up to within that 

 distance in full view before even attempting to take to 

 flight, while, when wounded, I have found them unable 

 to go far, and easy to finish, and their flesh may be 

 classed with that of the best of the choicer antelopes. 



It being their breeding season at this time (August), 

 there was considerable difficulty in selecting a herd which 

 had no calves, but after firing one or two unsuccessful shots 

 at gnu and solitary sassabi bulls, I saw a herd of four, which 

 consisted of two old cows, and two three-parts-grown 

 calves, and as it therefore seemed as if they were barren 

 this year, I determined to try them from where I was, — 

 two hundred yards, and by good luck broke the fore- 

 leg of the nearest cow. They started ofl", but as soon as 

 her lameness was noticeable, they pulled up again, and 



