IN THE FOREST 



the size of a cow. Males and females carry horns, of 

 which good measurements range from 27 to 29 inches, 

 and from 20 to 22 inches, according to the sex. I 

 have seen troops of gnus containing as many as 5,000 

 head. They frequent the vast, bare plains, which 

 they never leave except to spend the hot hours in the 

 small thorny woods bordering these expanses. 



When wounded, this animal should be approached 

 with caution. Its flesh is coarse, and its hide thick. 

 The tail is highly esteemed by the Kafir sorcerers, 

 being used in their incantations : the hairs are woven 

 into bracelets and collars, highly prized by the natives. 

 By the Kafirs this antelope is called niombo. After 

 my return to Guenger6, on October 31st, I start on 

 November 2nd with two negroes to the border of the 

 concession in order to kill a small antelope, when a 

 highly disagreeable adventure befel me, which at one 

 moment threatened to end tragically, and which I 

 ought to relate in detail. 



At a distance of two kilometres we came on the 

 tracks of a troop of five buffaloes — four cows and one 

 bull — which had passed a short time previously. 

 Although I had not with me the express, I took up the 

 trail, and, after a chase of two hours, came up with 

 the (herd, lying down in tall grass, with the exception 

 of one heifer which kept watch. 



As I dominate from the bank of the Nyantonga the 

 troop halted by the side of its bed, I determine to shoot 

 the sentinel in the neck, close to the head, in a manner 



(73) 



