BLESBOK HUNTING. IGl 



proaches these old bulls, they commence whisking their 

 long white tails in a most eccentric manner ; then 

 springing suddenly into the air, they begin prancing 

 and capering, and pursue each other in circles at their 

 utmost speed. Suddenly they all pull up together to 

 overhaul the intruder, when two of the bulls will often 

 commence fighting in the most violent manner, drop- 

 ping on their knees at every shock ; then quickly wheel- 

 ing about, they kick up their heels, whirl their tails 

 with a fantastic flourish, and scour across the plain en- 

 veloped in a cloud of dust. 



Throughout the greater part of the plains frequented 

 by blesboks, numbers of the sun-baked hills or mounds 

 of clay formed by the white ants occur. The average 

 height of the ant-hills, in these districts, is from two to 

 three feet. They are generally distant from one an- 

 other from one to three hundred yards, being more or 

 less thickly placed in different parts. These ant-hills 

 are of the greatest service to the hunter, enabling him 

 with facility to conceal himself on the otherwise open 

 plain. By means of them I was enabled to hide, and 

 select out of the herds the bucks and bulls carrying the 

 finest heads, for my collection. 



On the 28th, having breakfasted, I rode forth with 

 two after-riders to try for blesboks, and took up posi- 

 tions on the plain, lying flat on my breast behind ant- 

 hills, while my after-riders, one of whom led my horse, 

 endeavored to move them toward me. We found the 

 blesboks abundant, but extremely wary. I wounded 

 several, but did not bag one. I, however, shot two 

 springboks, which were fat, and whose flesh we stood 

 much in need of. I had several chances of wildebeests, 

 but I had resolved not to fire at them. 



The following day was the 1st of March. After an 



