100 LETTER xvm. 



tion of a dark brown stripe, extending from eftch cor- 

 ner of the mouth to the base of the horns : a stripe of 

 the same colour runs along each side, from the 

 shoulders to the haunches, forming a boundary be- 

 tween the snowy whiteness of the belly and the light 

 brown of the sides : the buttocks are white, and a 

 stripe of white, bounded on each side by one of d:;rk 

 brown, extends troru the tail, half-way up the back ; 

 the tail is very slender, the lower part of it not being 

 much thicker than a goose-quill ; the hair is in gene- 

 ral tine and short, but the dark stripes consist of hair 

 longer than the rest, In the pui'suit of these animals, 

 it is equally curious and pleasant, to see the whole 

 herd bounding over one another's heads to a consi- 

 derable height. Some of them will take three or four 

 high leaps successively. In this position they seem 

 suspended in the air, looking over their shoulders and 

 shewing their beautiful white backs. They are-.so 

 extremely swift, as to require a fleet horse to over- 

 take them. Their flesh is very well tasted, juicy, and 

 delicate. 



THE ELK ANTELOPE 



Is likewise an inhabitant of the southern parts of 

 Africa and also of India. It has straight horns, two 

 feet long, and of a dark brown colour, marked with 

 two prominent spiral ribs, running two-thirds of their 

 length, the tops smooth, with an inward inflection. 

 The forehead is flat, with a crest of hair standing erect 

 the whole length of it. This animal is one of the 

 largest of the gazelle kind : it is of a bluish ash co- 

 lour, and has a black mane, which stands upright, 

 and runs the \\holelengthofthebackaswelias of 

 the neck. The elk -antelopes live chiefly in the plains 

 lilies, and \\hen hunted, always endeavour to 

 run against the wind. The Dutch colonists, in the 

 i.aj.e settleiiK'.it, are very expert in hunting this 

 til mal. 



THE GEMSEBOEK 



Is another species of antelopes, famous for a con- 

 cretion ia the stomach, called the oriental bezoar. 

 The power of expelling poison, which ignorance for- 



