90 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



zebra, the two species being usually upon very intimate 

 terms. In parts of Africa, where they are still numerous, 

 hundreds of these zebras may be seen grazing upon 

 a single wide plain a truly magnificent spectacle, 

 interspersed as they are with other game. The flesh 

 of this, as of other kinds of zebra, while unpalatable 

 to Europeans, is in much esteem among natives. To 

 the Englishman the rich, yellow fat and sweet flavour 

 of the meat, added to the equine nature of the animal, 

 are sufficient obstacles to an enjoyable meal, and the 

 stomach usually rather rebels against this food. Such, 

 at least, is my own experience, and that of many other 

 white sportsmen in Africa. Burchell's zebra possesses 

 good speed and staying power, and, as a general rule, 

 can show its heels to a man mounted on an average 

 South African pony. That, at all events, is my own 

 opinion, and I have a good many times attempted to 

 gallop down these beasts in fair tail-on-end chase. 

 If one remembers that a 12 -stone man in such a 

 chase is encumbered with a rifle, water-bottle, field- 

 glasses, cartridges, and other impedimenta, and that 

 his nag has also to carry saddle and bridle, the whole 

 weighing not less than 15 stone probably nearer 

 1 6 stone this -is not surprising. It is an immense 

 handicap. Yet my friend Selous tells me that on 

 several occasions he has ridden his horse right up to 

 and even through a troop of Burchell's zebra. The 

 occasional superiority of the horse may therefore 

 for Mr. Selous' evidence is absolutely unimpeachable 

 be taken as fully established. Unencumbered by 

 a rider, a decent South African pony would, un- 



