72 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. IX. 



extended, clouds of dust hovered over them ; and 

 the long necks of troops of ostriches were also to be 

 seen, towering above the heads of their less gigantic 

 neighbours, and sailing past with astonishing ra- 

 pidity. Groups of purple sassaybys, and brilUant 

 red and yellow hartebeests, likewise lent their aid 

 to complete the picture, which must have been 

 seen to be properly understood, and which beggars 

 all attempt at description. Tlie savages kept in 

 our wake, dexterously despatching the wounded 

 gnoos by a touch on the spine with the point of an 

 assagai, and instantly covering up the carcases 

 with bushes, to secure them from the voracity of 

 the vultures, which hung about us like specks in 

 the firmament, and descended with the velocity of 

 lightning, as each discharge of our artillery gave 

 token of prey. As we proceeded, two strange figures 

 were perceived standing under the shade of a tree ; 

 these we instantly knew to be elands,* the savages 

 at the same moment exclaiming with evident delight, 

 Tynpoofo, Impoofo, and pressing our horses to the 

 utmost speed, we found ourselves for the first time, 

 at the heels of the largest and most beautiful species 

 of the antelope tribe. Notwithstanding the un-. 

 weildy shape of these animals, they had at first 

 greatly exceeded the speed of our jaded horses; but 

 being pushed, they soon separated ; their sleek 

 coats turned first blue and then white with froth ; 

 the foam fell from their mouths and nostrils, and 

 the perspiration from their sides. Their pace gra- 

 * Boselaphus Oreas. Delineated in the African Views. 



