THE ANTELOPES AND GAZELLES 149 



most plentiful was North Mashonaland, where, until 

 a few years since, they were to be found in very large 

 numbers. Since the settlement of Rhodesia their 

 numbers here have been considerably reduced ; but in 

 the remoter parts of Mashonaland good troops of 

 these animals, numbering as many as thirty or forty, 

 still exist. From ten to twenty is about the usual 

 number of a troop ; but in the year 1895 Mr. Selous 

 met with a herd of these antelopes in Mashonaland 

 which numbered no less than eighty. 



Sable antelope frequent by choice rolling, thinly- 

 bushed veldt, or thinly- timbered country, in the 

 vicinity of low hills and running streams. When 

 not harassed by gunners they are often far less timid 

 and suspicious than other antelopes. In 1890, when 

 Mr. Rhodes's pioneers entered Mashonaland, a friend 

 of the writer, stalking behind a screen of bush not 

 far from camp, shot no less than three of these fine 

 buck, one after another, before the troop became 

 alarmed and moved off. These shots were all within 

 less than 100 yards. On another occasion several of 

 these antelopes, catching sight of a mounted hunter, 

 cantered right up to him, evidently in the belief that 

 man and horse were some wild and innocuous creature 

 of the veldt like themselves. 



In South Africa, as far north as Mashonaland, 

 where horses can be used, sable antelope can very 

 well be pursued on horseback, the hunter usually 

 dismounting to take his shot, or leaving his nag, and 

 stalking in upon the troop on whose spoor he has 

 been riding. This is by far the easiest and pleasantest 



