HERDS OF ZEBRAS. 245 



my companions. Just before dark Moloka returned 

 with the tusks. All were perfect ; one pair measured 

 four feet eleven inches in length, and seventeen inches 

 in circumference, the others were much smaller. He 

 also brought with him a little ourebi (scopopliorus 

 ourebi)^ which he had succeeded in killing. These 

 animals are capital eating, being almost as palatable 

 as the well-known "jungle sheep" of the hills in 

 Southern India. 



Having determined to make an early start the fol- 

 lomng morning in quest of large game, I asked the 

 chief to let me have a couple of men ready to be off at 

 dawn. He at first seemed to think that would be im- 

 possible, as all the men would want to spend the day 

 eating elephant ; but after a little conversation, during 

 which I informed him that I should be much offended 

 were I compelled to wait while his servants fed them- 

 selves, he agreed to my request. 



Accordingly we made an early start of it, in search 

 of elephants. After a long day, during which we got a 

 tremendous roasting, and suffered from want of water, 

 but saw no fresh spoor, we came across three herds of 

 zebras, but all attempts to get within range proved 

 fruitless, owing to the parched and stony nature of the 

 ground. Tliese beautiful creatures invariably ran 

 away on hearing the slightest noise, galloping graceful- 

 ly over the plain, and leaving a cloud of dust in their 

 wake. They never run away thickly packed together, 

 as most others do when a herd is disturbed, but open 

 out to a distance of about ten to fifteen yards from each 

 other, and go at a wonderful pace. 



The setting sun was just proclaiming the termination 



