A sportsman's annoyance. 169 



the ear, a measure I should have hesitated to adopt 

 had the head borne a fine pair of horns instead of 

 an ugly pair of ears, and fired. Rigby again did 

 its work, and the doe bit the dust. On examination 

 I found that the bullet had gone through the head, 

 literally smashing the skull to pieces. My sole object 

 in killing this animal was that I might have specimens 

 of the skin of both sexes. 



As it was now growing dark, I found it necessary to 

 leave the skins where they were till morning, and 

 accordingly returned. Within a hundred yards of 

 where I had killed the last animal, a bush-bock ran 

 past me at a distance of seventy yards, but I missed 

 him, the ball passing over his back in a good 

 line. On my way to the boat, and not very far from 

 the village, I saw the fresh spoor of elephants and 

 buffalo, but it was too late to dream of trying to follow 

 them up that night. 



On reaching home I was informed that an early 

 start was in contemplation for the following morning, 

 a guide to Mapoonda having been provided by the 

 chief I asked for a day, as I fancied we had plenty 

 of time, and I knew elephants were not far; but it 

 could not be spared. I then reduced my application 

 to half that time, in order to fetch the koodoo skins ; 

 but that request could not be complied with either. 

 I discovered on this occasion that a man who is not a 

 sportsman himself must not be expected to sym- 

 pathise with lovers of the chase ; and I must confess 

 I retired to rest a little, if not very much annoyed. I 

 tried to get some of the men to come with me for 

 the koodoo skins during tlie night, but as they 



