296 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



about 200 yards, at a bull with a fair head that was standing 

 up, and should have done so had I not at that moment caught 

 sight of a grand cow lying down just behind him. Still creep- 

 ing, in time I succeeded in reaching the bush, lay with my 

 head in the shade of it, glad of a few minutes' rest, and had a 

 good look at the herd through my binoculars. 



There was no doubt that the cow I had noticed had quite 

 the best head of the whole herd, and as I was not more than 

 125 yards off, I decided to take a shot from where I was and 

 not run the risk of being seen in attempting to creep nearer. 



After waiting about ten minutes in the hope that the cow 

 would get up, I could no longer stand the heat of the sun 

 pouring down on my back, and so carefully sat up and 

 worked myself round to the right of the bush. Aiming at her as 

 she lay I gave a whistle, which brought all the oryx to their feet, 

 and as she stood up pressed the trigger and heard the welcome 

 ' phut ' of the bullet as it struck her ; but I could not see the 

 result of the shot, as the recoil of the rifle caused several beads 

 of perspiration to run down my spectacles, and I was unable to 

 see anything. My gun-bearer now came running up, and in 

 answer to my question if the beast was down or not, said, 

 ' Umianguka' (It has fallen), and my joy was unbounded. 

 It was a splendid beast, the best I have ever shot, and well 

 worth the trouble I had taken to get it. 



KOBUS KOB 



The Kobus Kob is first met with in British East Africa near 

 Mumia's, in Upper Kavirondo. Here I saw a small herd on 

 three consecutive days ,on the banks of the Nzoia quite near to 

 the same place. As I was after hippos at the time, and never 

 got near the antelopes, I mistook them for impalas, and paid no 

 further attention to them, until one day Mr. Gedge brought 

 in the head of one he had shot, and I at once recognised my 

 mistake. On going out specially to get one or two I found 

 them fairly plentiful. This beast is rarely seen more than 

 300 or 400 yards from water. It is very shy, and unless found 



