WAIT-A-BIT THORNS KOODOOS. 137 



panied by Cobus and Jacob. We found the country 

 covered with bushes, of which the majority were of a 

 most impracticable description, reminding me of a kill- 

 devil, an implement used in angling, they being cover- 

 ed with thorns on the fish-hook principle. This variety 

 of mimosa is waggishly termed by the Boers " vyacht 

 um bige," or wait-a-bit thorns, as they continually so- 

 licit the passing traveler not to be in a hurry; if he 

 disregards which request, the probability is that he 

 leaves a part of his shirt or trowsers in their possession. 

 Here and there were hills covered with sharp adamant- 

 ine rocks, throughout which, however, there was abund- 

 ance of excellent grass and fine green bushes. In 

 short, it was just the country to suit the taste of the 

 rock-loving koodoos. Having proceeded some miles, 

 we discovered fresh spoor of a troop of them at the foot 

 of one of the ranges of rocky hills. We then crossed 

 the ridge, still finding spoor, and the country becoming 

 more and more likely. 



Suddenly, on raising our eyes, we saw standing on 

 the hill-side, within three hundred yards of us, five buck 

 koodoos, four of which were tearing old fellows carry- 

 ing extremely fine horns ; and majestic as they were, 

 the elevated position which they occupied imparted to 

 them a still more striking appearance. We galloped 

 toward them, on which they bounded higher up the 

 rocky hill, and stood for a few seconds looking at us. 



I had seen many sights thrilling to a sportsman, but 

 few to surpass what I then beheld. I think an old 

 buck koodoo, when seen standing broadside on, is de- 

 cidedly one of the grandest-looking antelopes in the 

 world. They now broke into two lots, the two finest 

 bucks holding to the left, and to these we gave chase. 

 Thev led us over the most terrific "round for horses 



