GAME AND SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA. 45 



consist of steinbucks and duikers, bustards (both 

 large and small), innumerable sand-grouse near 

 pools, and, when the hollows have been converted 

 into lakelets by a heavy fall of rain, these are 

 covered with all kinds of wildfowl, and fine sport 

 is obtainable. Francolin are unknown in or near 

 the Kalliharri. An occasional lion is not tin- 

 common, and leopards are in some places excep- 

 tionally numerous and aggressive. In tfie absence 

 of surface waters these carnivora satisfy thirst by 

 absorbing wild watermelons, which are always 

 obtainable in some parts of this vast tract of 

 country. Immense surfaces of the desert are 

 covered with high sand dunes, the sides of which 

 are grassy and thinly sprinkled over with bush, 

 and even large timber trees are not rare. In such 

 localities first-rate stalking sport is more prac- 

 ticable than in any other part of Africa I am 

 acquainted with. And now it occurs to me that 

 in my enumeration of African game birds I omitted 

 to mention guineafowl, which are in some places, 

 especially on the Limpopo, very numerous, but 

 give better results in the pot than as objects of 

 sport, as they are desperate runners, and difficult 

 of approach except when treed by a dog. On 



