THE ANTELOPES AND GAZELLES 143 



strength and thirst-resisting powers. No man ought 

 to hunt in the Kalahari without the aid of Masarwa 

 bushmen, who are familiar with the desert and are in- 

 capable of losing themselves. And, in addition, the 

 European sportsman penetrating that country ought 

 to be accompanied always by a native after-rider who 

 understands spooring, is used to the veldt, and knows 

 the ways of the Masarwas. Water-carts (i.e. casks 

 mounted on wheels) may be utilised for a few days 

 while gemsbok or giraffe hunting ; but horses are 

 big drinkers, and the contents of a cask soon vanish. 



The gemsbok stands from 3 feet 9 inches to 4 

 feet at the withers, and is a stoutly built antelope, 

 warm grey in colour, having a white face most 

 singularly painted with black -brown markings. 

 These markings impart somewhat the semblance ot 

 a head-stall. Along the side and flanks, and on the 

 upper parts of the legs are dark markings. The 

 under parts are pure white. A dark, thick mane 

 clothes the strong, full neck. The tail is long, black, 

 and sweeping. Conscious, as it were, of its own 

 dignity, and possessing a somewhat martial aspect, 

 the gemsbok, in its native veldt, is beyond question 

 one of the noblest ornaments of the desert. 



These animals run in troops varying in number 

 from seven or eight to as many as twenty or even 

 more. The old bulls, when driven from the troop 

 by younger rivals, roam the veldt alone ; I have 

 found at times that these individuals may be pretty 

 closely approached. I once watched one, standing 

 at 70 yards' distance, staring full at our party for 



