Waterbuck 



heavily ringed at the bases, they run to 30 inches 

 and 35 inches. Some are even longer. Quite 

 recently one of the members of the Anglo-Congo- 

 lese Boundary Commission told me that he had 

 bagged one of 40 inches. I am not certain that 

 he did not say 42 inches. This was "way down 

 South " on the Semliki river, which wanders 

 through the forests, reposing under Rewenjori's 

 snow-clad peaks. 



He is a beautiful animal, and his head makes a 

 remarkably fine trophy, but his flesh, alas ! is 

 not for you or me. It is too strong for us, but 

 the homely porter revels in it, and also in his 

 skin, which is carefully divided up by master in 

 camp in the evening and distributed amongst 

 those men who have worn through their sandals. 

 The skin is tough, and saves their feet from the 

 thorns and stones, whilst when marching in water 

 or on the sfrass these sandals are taken off and 

 attached to the owners' belts, so as to save them 

 for a rainy day. 



He is commonly met with throughout any 

 journey in these latitudes, and, as his name 

 implies, never at any very great distance from 

 water. They may be seen together in a large 

 mob of, say, twenty or so ; or, on the other hand, 

 perhaps only five or six will be found grazing 

 away from water at dawn in the shelter of some 

 friendly trees under which they propose to snooze 

 away the heat of the day, till in the evening 



283 



