214 Men, Mines, AND Animals in South Africa. 



any one imagine that antelope-hunting in Africa is 

 a tame, safe kind of amusement, three or four 

 weeks' exi^erience of it will easily undeceive him. 

 Then the game. Such numbers, such variety, such 

 size, such beauty. Xothing moi'e wildly lovely can 

 be imagined than the sight of a herd of roan antelope, 

 of hartebeest or quagga galloping through the 

 forest ; nothing more wildly exciting than the 

 pursuit of such a herd ; sighting the game through 

 the trees, sometimes obtainino; a fair standino; shot 

 Tvdthin moderate range, then mounting your horse, 

 loading as you gallop along, leaving him to pick 

 his way as best he can among trees, branches, roots, 

 stones, and holes : comino-aira in within one hundred 

 or one hundred and fifty yards, not dismounting, but 

 almost flinging yourself off your horse and firing 

 both barrels as rapidly and as accurately as you 

 may; then on again, over hill, river, and dale, 

 until you and your steed are alike exhausted. 

 These good chases will not occur every day any 

 more that a good fox chase or a good day's salmon 

 fishing comes often in the season. The hunter may 

 ride for miles and for hours throuofh the most 

 sporting, " gamey "' kind of country without set- 

 ting eyes on a living creature ; but ^v^hen they do 

 occur they are periods of excitement every inci- 

 dent of Avdiich the memory cannot fail during a life- 

 time to retaiu. Then the accompaniments, the 

 framework as it were, of the chase after buck; 

 the early start, the break of day, the brilliant sun- 

 rise, the cool morning air, the return to camp, 

 Avearied, but pleased and excited, the bath, the 



