THE GREAT THIRST LAND. IOQ 



Orange River, in the Kenhardt district, where 

 they were very numerous, but are now probably 

 extinct. 



When driven to bay gemsbuck are apt to become 

 dangerous and to use their horns with effect On 

 one occasion the horse of a Boer comrade of mine 

 was transfixed and killed on the spot by a charge, 

 the rider only escaping being pinned to the saddle 

 by the position of his leg between the horns. 

 These antelopes seem very indifferent to the 

 attacks of dogs, as I once saw one which was 

 pursued by a host of large native curs fight his 

 way through, leaving five of his assailants dead 

 or wounded behind him after an encounter which 

 lasted only a few minutes. Natives assert that the 

 lion is very averse to attacking the gemsbuck, and 

 only assails him when no other game is available, 

 very often coming to grief in the contest which 

 is, however, usually fatal to both combatants, if 

 reports are trustworthy. The skin of this antelope 

 is in parts more than an inch thick, and very much 

 valued, being worth at least 2 in barter. 



A rifle or gun to be good for gemsbuck should 

 therefore have strong penetrating power, especially 

 as most of the shots will be fired from behind 

 although not necessarily from a great distance. 



