THE I^AEBADA valley. 61 



There are many ways of circumventing them. Living 

 quite in the open they rely principally on the sense of 

 sight for protection, although at times warned also by 

 their power of smell. One way is to drive up to 

 them in one of the bullock-carts commonly used in 

 agriculture. The native shikari often sfets near them 

 by creeping up behind a screen of leaves which he 

 works before him. Where they have not been much 

 harassed the European sportsman, in sad-coloured 

 garments, can usually stalk in on them when passing 

 between the grass plains and the crops. In the very 

 early morning, if a station be taken up in their usual 

 route, they are nearly sure to come within shot, the 

 grunting of the bucks warning the sportsman of their 

 approach some time before they emerge from the dark- 

 ness. One of the most successful and interesting plans 

 is to ride a steady shooting horse nearly up to the 

 herd. When within say four hundred yards, slip off 

 and walk on the off side of the horse in such a direction 

 as will lead past the herd within shot, if possible on 

 the down-wind side. If they have been so shot at in 

 this way as to be shy of the horse, take a groom and 

 pass them further off; and when a convenient bush 

 or hillock intervenes drop behind, and let the man 

 lead the horse on, passing well clear of the herd. They 

 will probably be so intent on watching them out of 

 the way, that you will generally be able to creep in 

 on them without much difficulty. Shots at antelope 

 in populous districts are seldom got much under 150 

 yards nowadays, which is, however, near enough for 

 modern rifles to make sure W'Ork. One great advantage 

 of employing a horse in stalking is that it will often 

 enable you to follow and spear a wounded buck which 



