CAPE OX. 417 



coarse, and black, hanging down the dewlap, 

 like that of a Bison : from the hind part of the 

 head to the middle of the back is also a loose 

 k inane : the tail is nearly naked at the base; 

 flu' remainder being covered with long loose hair. 

 The horns are black ; extremely broad at their 

 base, resembling, in this respect, those of the 

 Musk Ox, but do not stand quite close, as in that 

 species, but separated by a narrow space of scarce 

 an inch wide: they are transversely wrinkled 

 above, and are very large and long, spreading 

 far over the head towards the eyes, then growing 

 taper, and bending down on each side of the 

 neck ; the ends inclining backwards and upwards : 

 the space between the tips is sometimes five feet ; 

 the ears are a foot long, and half pendent or 

 swagging downwards. 



These animals are found in large herds in the 

 desert parts beyond the Cape, retiring by day 

 into the thick forests, and appearing chiefly to- 

 wards the evening and morning ; and if met in 

 the narrow parts of woods, are extremely dan- 

 gerous, rushing suddenly on the traveller, goring 

 and trampling both man and horse under foot. 

 It is also said that they will often strip off the 

 skin of such animals as they have killed, by lick- 

 ing them with their rough tongues, as recorded 

 by some of the ancient authors of the Bison. The 

 skin is excessively strong, and is, on this account, 

 in high estimation with the colonists at the Cape, 

 for its superior excellence in making harnesses, 



