A RUSH TO THE BUSl 



in sharp points ; those of the male are thicker at the 

 base and larger than those of the female. 1 



The sable antelope associates in small troops, in 

 which are never found more than three or four [adult] 

 males. It is an animal with great cunning and great 

 suspiciousness. It does not leave the thickets till 

 dusk, or at dawn, to enter the pastures. Seldom 

 encountered in the plains, it prefers a country inter- 

 sected by ravines, covered with vegetation, and, 

 above all, those provided with water. Its chief food 

 consists of the shoots of shrubs and the leaves of 

 certain resinous trees. 



The natives have told me that this antelope, when 

 surprised by the lion, defends itself valiantly, and 

 that it will stab with its horns the feline sufficiently 

 rash to spring at its throat. Although the Kafirs 

 like the flesh, it is hard, and possesses a particular 

 aroma, which I attribute to the resinous buds this 

 animal consumes. 



Returning to camp, I saw nothing but negroes 

 dismembering the carcase, cutting up the flesh and 

 cleaning the bones. All night huge fires were drying 

 the meat, which they smoked on props. Despite 

 the odours of this great butchery, nothing on the 

 move came to awaken us. Under the guidance of a 

 native, who promised me some game, we quitted the 

 track and marched through the bush. Our guide 



1 The dimensions of good heads range, in males, between forty and 

 fifty inches, and females between twenty- five and thirty inches. 



(33) 



4— (a 135) 



