xxi AFRICAN ANTELOPES 351 



As a rule, I make a point of hamstringing every species of 

 animal (except an elephant) immediately that it falls to the ground ; 

 it is then safe. A slight drawing cut with a good hunting-knife 

 will sever the tendon at once. Mahometans are very particular in 

 performing the Khallahl before life is extinct. It is a difficult 

 operation to cut the throat of a large beast armed with sharp horns, 

 while it is struggling upon the ground, especially when the hide is 

 thick and tough, as in the case of bull antelopes of the larger 

 species. I once had a deplorable loss of one of the finest koodoos 

 (A. strepsiceros) that I ever shot. This was lying upon the ground, 

 shot a little too high, and as it struggled violently, my men, to one 

 of whom I had given my hunting-knife, were afraid to seize it by 

 the beautiful long horns. It was in vain that I endeavoured to 

 hurry them, until losing patience, I laid my rifle on the ground, 

 and was about to take the knife myself in spite of their religious 

 prejudice, when the koodoo suddenly gained his feet and started off 

 at full gallop into the thick bush, leaving my dilatory people stupe- 

 fied and amazed at the disappearance of their beef. We never saw 

 this animal again. 



The koodoo generally affords pretty shooting, as it is found in 

 deep wooded ravines, which can be commanded by a rifle upon both 

 sides, should the animal rush forward from the bottom. Such 

 deep places are seldom more than 100 yards across, therefore one 

 person upon the margin can always obtain a shot when the koodoo 

 is disturbed by throwing stones into the bottom of the hollow. In 

 this case the rifle should be 100 yards ahead of the men who throw 

 the stones. 



I have never seen any variety of antelope that was really fat. 

 Although they are exceedingly muscular and fleshy, being thoroughly 

 well rounded, and in good condition, the best that I have seen 

 would hardly produce one pound of suet ; that being around the 

 kidneys. Many of these animals are infested by parasitical worms, 

 The bubalis has a species of large maggot which is found in the 

 high bony protuberance upon which the horns are fitted. Some of 

 the gazelles have worms which bore through the flesh, and are only 

 stopped by the skin, upon reaching which a local inflammation is 

 set up, and blood-red circular spots are found beneath the surface. 

 I have frequently seen gazelles that were perfectly unfit for food, 

 and nevertheless they appeared to be in good condition until 

 flayed. When divested of the skin, they were in a deplorable 

 state, the inner surface of the hide being covered with rings of 

 blood, the results of the worm's puncture in its passage through 

 the flesh. 



