CHAPTER XXVII 



ANIMALS WHICH PROVIDE MEAT OR HIDES 



Of those animals to which the settler looks for meat 

 or hides, rather than for sport, the Eland takes pride 

 of place. This magnificent animal suffered almost as 

 badly as did the buffalo in the rinderpest outbreak, and 

 has made almost as satisfactory a recovery. Mr. 

 Edward North Buxton describes, in " Two African 

 Trips," how he made great efforts, without avail, to obtain 

 a trophy. Luckily, he would have no such difficulty 

 now. The eland is the only antelope which carries 

 fat, this being more especially the case with old bulls, 

 which are sometimes very heavy. Such old fellows 

 are extraordinarily easily galloped down, even by a 

 slow pony. At a fast trot they are apparently able to 

 go all day, but directly they are pressed into a gallop 

 they begin to puff. On foot, however, it is no easy 

 matter to stalk a bull, more especially if he has cows 

 with him. Not only are the cows very vigilant, but 

 the whole herd are nearly always on the move. There- 

 fore, though not included as an animal likely to afford 

 a settler with sport, he is not incapable of its produc- 

 tion. I am far from being one of those who assert 

 that there is no sport or skill in hunting on the plains, 



though I must confess that it is a sport apt to pall 



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