156 GAZELLES FEEDING. 



and I, as usual whenever there was time, went for 

 a stroll in the adjacent jungles. 



Running parallel to the shore there is a flat tract of 

 ground about half a mile broad, reaching to the base 

 of the hills, and covered with light forest. As I 

 walked alone down this I found several open glades, 

 in which the grass had been burned, the young 

 shoots affording the favourite food of the antelope in 

 this country. The hills, as I neared them in my wan- 

 derings, seemed to be formed of immense masses of 

 detached rock, in the fissures of which small trees and 

 thick underwood were nourished. As it was late I 

 did not ascend the hills, but contented myself ^vith 

 exploring the flats. On entering one of the glades, 

 where the new grass stood about a foot high, I saw 

 two gazelles feeding at the far end, and in the centre. 

 I stalked to the edge of the wood, within a hundred 

 and fifty yards of them, and finding I could get no 

 nearer, sat down to watch them. They were feeding 

 past me, and I was struck with the unsuspicious way 

 in which they trod the open. Often have I watched 

 an old stag feeding under similar circumstances, but 

 how different was his manner ! He would take a bite 

 or two, and then look all round him and listen before 

 again tasting the delicious morsel, always on the 

 qui vive, as 



" Proudly then his neck he bent 

 To cross the grassy mound, 

 Yet still a watchful ear he lent 

 To every passing sound." 



These beautiful specimens of the small African antelopes 

 took their customary feed without fear of interruption. 



