FIRST SIGHT OF SPRINGBOKS. 59 



large, well-conditioned oxen. He offered me a span at 

 £3 ahead; they were worth £12 each in England. I 

 felt the sun rather oppressive. 



About two P.M. we inspanned, and, having ascend- 

 ed a long and very steep hill, we entered upon a new 

 line of country, of wide, undulating, open plains of rank, 

 waving grass, dotted over with the mud-built habita- 

 tions of white ants. We held on for three hours after 

 sundown, and halted for the night at an uninhabited 

 dilapidated mansion, in which we lighted a fire and 

 cooked our dinner. Having secured our oxen on the 

 yokes, instead of permitting them to graze during the 

 night, we were enabled to march next morning some 

 time before the break of day ; and as the rising sun 

 gradually unvailed the landscape, I had the pleasure 

 of beholding for the first time several small herds of 

 springboks scattered over the plain. This exquisiteh 

 graceful and truly interesting antelope is very general 

 ly diffused throughout Southern Africa, and is more nu- 

 merous there than any other variety ; it is very nearly 

 allied to the ariel gazelle of Northern Africa, and in its 

 nature and habits reminded me of the saisin of India. 

 A few herds of springboks are still to be met with on 

 the plains in the district of. Somerset, on which I had 

 now entered ; but as this is one of the nearest districts 

 to the abodes of men where this species remains, it is 

 of course much hunted, and is annually becoming scar- 

 cer. The gentlemen farmers of the surrounding dis- 

 tricts keep a good breed of greyhounds, with which they 

 have excellent sport in pursuing these antelopes. On be- 

 holding the springboks T instantly directed my two horses 

 to be saddled, and, desiring the Hottentots to proceed 

 to a farm in advance and there outspan. T rode forth 

 with Cobus, takin<r mv two-c^ruoved rifle to en leavor 



