Зо MODES OF HUNTING ANTELOPE. 



head, heart, or lungs. In any other case the dzeren 

 escapes, although perhaps mortally wounded, and is 

 often lost to the hunter, for it runs faster with a 

 broken leg than a good horse can gallop. For this 

 sport you must have a rifle with a long point-blank 

 range, because it is almost impossible to judge dis- 

 tances accurately in the steppe. You must have a 

 rest for your rifle, such as the native sportsmen of 

 Siberia use, otherwise you will be apt to find that, 

 after having walked quickly for a considerable dis- 

 tance, your hand is shaky just when you want to 

 take your aim ! In fact on entering the deserts of 

 Asia the sportsman must lay aside his European 

 experiences and learn a great deal from the native 

 hunters. 



The Mongols, armed with their poor matchlocks, 

 hunt the dzerens in the following way. In those 

 parts of the steppe where antelope abound they dig 

 small pits at certain distances apart. These holes at 

 first excite mistrust, so the animals are left alone for 

 some weeks to get used to them. The hunters then 

 repair to their allotted stations, and conceal them- 

 selves in the pits, while others make a wide circuit 

 to windward driving the herd towards the am- 

 bush, and no gun is fired till they are within a 

 distance of fifty paces or even less. The drivers 

 must know their business and be thoroughly familiar 

 Avith the habits of the animal, otherwise their labour 

 will be lost. They must never gallop suddenly up 

 to the herd, because if they do the antelope almost 

 always escape. The usual plan is to make a circuit 



