178 THE IMPuOFO. 



smoked is more particularly esteemed ; these are cut out 

 at their whole length, and from the resemblance they 

 bear to bullock's tongues are called Thigh Tongues. 

 They are sent as presents or for sale to Cape Town, 

 and are eaten raw with bread and butter, cut into 

 very thin slices. The taste of Eland's flesh, when 

 eaten fresh, much resembles beef. The skins are 

 much esteemed for making leather, and the horns are 

 formed into tobacco pipes.* Thus, they appear to be 

 a very useful animal, and it must be regretted that 

 persecution is likely to destroy the species in the 

 vicinity of civilization. 



According to the above quoted author, the Eland 

 is from seven to eight feet in length, and about four 

 feet high. They are sometimes found in groups of 

 twenty or thirty together, but more commonly from 

 eight to ten, of which there are seldom more than one 

 or two males, which are fattest, and are always singled 

 out for destruction. They run swiftly at first, but are 

 easily wearied and run down, and are said by the 

 peasants to be more easily taken by man than any 

 other of the African animals. 



Major Smith gives the dimensions larger than those 

 of Lichtenstein. The weight is often above a hundred 

 pounds ; the length between eight and nine feet. The 

 height of a female in the Tower was five feet at the 

 shoulder; and Mr. Barrow mentions a male six feet 

 and a half high. The horns are placed on the sum- 



* Lichtenstein's Travels, EngL Trans, i. t*7. 



