218 ADVENTURES O SOUTH AFRICA. 



his pace to a trot. Spurring my horse, another mo- 

 ment saw me riding hard behind him. Twice in the 

 thickets I lost sight of him, and he very nearly escaped 

 me; but at length, the ground improving, I came up 

 with him, and rode within a few yards behind him. 

 Long streaks of foam now streamed from his mouth, 

 and a profuse perspiration had changed his sleelc gray 

 coat to an ashy blue. Tears trickled from his large 

 dark eye, and it was plain that the eland's hours were 

 numbered. Pitching my rifle to my shoulder, I let fly 

 at the gallop, and mortally wounded him behind ; then 

 spurring my horse, I shot past him on his right side, 

 and discharged my other barrel behind his shoulder, 

 when the eland staggered for a moment and subsided 

 in the dust.* The two Baquaines soon made their ap- 

 pearance, and seemed delighted at my success. Hav- 

 ing kindled a fire, they cut out steaks, which they 

 roasted on the embers: I also cooked a steak for my- 



* This magnificent aninaal is by far the largest of all the antelope 

 tribe, exceeding a large ox in size. It also attains an extraordinary 

 condition, being often burdened with a very large amount of fat. Its 

 flesh is most excellent, and is justly esteemed above all others. It lias 

 a peculiar sv^'eetness, and is tender and fit for use the moment the ani- 

 mal is killed. Like the gemsbok, the eland is independent of water, 

 and frequents the borders of the great Kalahari desert in herds varying 

 from ten to a hundred. It is also generally diffused throughout all tlie 

 wooded districts of the interior where I hunted. Like odier varieties 

 of deer and antelope, the old males may often be found consorting to. 

 gether apart from the females, and a troop of these, when in full con- 

 dition, may be likened to a herd of stall-fed oxen. The eland has less 

 speed than any other variety of antelope ; and, by judicious riding, they 

 may be driven to camp from a great distance. In this manner I liave 

 often ridden the best bull out of the herd, and brought him within gun- 

 shot of my wagons, wliere I could more conveniently cut up and pre- 

 serve the flesh, without the trouble of sending men and pack-oxen to 

 fetch it. I have repeatedly seen an eland drop down dead at the end 

 oi a severe chase, owing to his plethoric habit. The skin of the eland 

 1 had just shot emitted, like most other ante] jpes, the most delicious 

 perfume of trees and grass. 



