94 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



On the 10th of December, every thing having been 

 made ready overnight, I took cotiee, saddled up, and 

 started an hour before day-dawn, accompanied by Co- 

 bus and Jacob as after-riders, leading a spare horse 

 with my pack-saddle. We held a southwesterly course, 

 and at length reached the base of a little hillock slight- 

 ly elevated above the surrounding scenery. Here ] 

 dismounted, and, having ascended to the summit, ex- 

 amined the country all around minutely with my spy- 

 glass, but could not see any thing like the oryx. 1 

 was in the act of putting up my glass again, when, to 

 my intense delight, I perceived, feeding within four 

 hundred yards, in a hollow between two hillocks, a glo- 

 rious herd of about five-and-twenty of the long-wished- 



ing black tail, and general appearance of the horse, with the head and 

 hoofs of an antelope. It is robust in its form, squarely and compactly 

 built, and very noble in its bearing. Its height is about that of an ass, 

 and in color it slightly resembles that animal. The beautiful black 

 bands which eccentrically adorn its head, giving it the appearance of 

 wearing a stall-collar, together with the manner in which the rump and 

 thighs are painted, impart to it a cliaracter peculiar to itself. The adult 

 male measures three feet ten inches in height at the shoulder. 



Tlie gemsbok was destined by nature to adorn the parched kari'oos 

 and arid deserts of South Africa, for which description of country it ia 

 admii'ably adapted. It thrives and attains high condition in barren re- 

 gions, where it might be imagined that a locust would not find subsist- 

 ence, and, burning as is the climate, it is perfectly independent of wa- 

 ter, which, from ray own observation, and the repeated reports both 

 of the Boers and aborigines, I am convinced it never by any chance 

 tastes. Its flesh is deservedly esteemed, and ranks next to the eland. 

 At certain seasons of the year they carry a great quantity of fat, at which 

 time they can more easily be ridden into. Owing to the even nature 

 of the ground which the oryx frequents, its shy and suspicious disposi- 

 tion, and the extreme distances from water to which it must be follow- 

 ed, it is never stalked or driven to an ambush like other antelopes, but 

 is hunted on horseback, and ridden down by a long, severe, tail-ou-end 

 chase. Of several animals in South Africa which are hunted in this 

 manner, and may be ridden into by a horse, the oryx is by far the swift- 

 est and most enduring. They are widely diffused throughout the cen- 

 ter and western parts of South Africa. 



