Chap. IX.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 73 



dually slackened, and with their full brilliant eyes 

 tin-ned imi)loiingly towards us, at the end of a mile, 

 each was laid low by a single ball. They were 

 young bulls, measuring upwards of seventeen hands 

 at the shoulder. 



I was engaged in making a sketch of the one 1 

 had shot, when the savages came \ip, and in spite 

 of all my remonstrances, proceeded with cold-blooded 

 ferocity to stab the unfortunate animal, stirring up 

 the blood and shouting with barbarous exultation, 

 as it issued from each newly inflicted wound, regard- 

 less of the eloquent and piteous appeal, expressed 

 in the beautiful clear black eye of the mild and in- 

 offensive eland. 



In size and shape, the body of the male eland 

 resembles that of a well-conditioned Guzerat ox, 

 not nnfrequently attaining the height of nineteen 

 hands, and weighing two thousand pounds. The 

 head is strictly thai of the antelope, light, graceful, 

 and bony, with a pair of magnificent straight horns, 

 about two feet in length, spirally ringed, and pointed 

 backv,'ards. A broad and deep dewlap, fringed 

 with brown hair, reaches to the knee. The colour 

 varies considerably with the age, being dun in some, 

 in others an ashy blue with a tinge of ochre; and 

 in many abo, sandy grey approaching to wiiite. 

 The flesh is esteemed by all classes in Africa, above 

 that of any other animal ; in grain and colour it 

 resembles beef, but is better tasted, and more deli- 

 cate, possessiTig a pure game flavour, and the 

 quantity of fat with whicii it is interlarded is sur- 



E 



