268 A COLONY IN THE MAKING chap. 



Consequently, nowadays huge bands of does are seen 

 in company with a half-grown bull or two. It is 

 possible that the number allowed to be shot on a 

 licence might be reduced, and farmers who appreciate 

 the presence of this very harmless antelope would be 

 well advised to obtain their " reims " from old does in 

 preference to bulls in the prime of life. Waterbuck 

 meat is so exceptionally nasty that porters have been 

 known to refrain from eating more than a certain 

 amount, and actually not to finish the entire carcase, 

 incredible as it may sound. A fair pair of Ellipsi- 

 prymnus horns would be 25 inches, and 27 inches might 

 be considered fine. In Defassa the similar measure- 

 ments might be 27 inches and 29 inches. In Uganda, 

 of course, specimens run very much bigger. Nearly 

 all streams and lakes with wooded banks have water- 

 buck within tw T o miles. They used to he especially 

 numerous and fine on the Uasin Guishu plateau, but 

 the Dutch population have altered all that and have 

 exterminated or driven across the Nzoia the great 

 majority. 



The Wildebeeste or White-bearded Brindled Gnu has 

 a useful hide and furnishes fairly savoury meat, the 

 tongue and tail being the best portions. Now that the 

 Loieta plains have become a portion of the Masai 

 Reserve, comparatively few farmers are in direct contact 

 with the animal. Such would be those who are resi- 

 dent on or adjoin the Athi or Kapiti plains. There are, 

 moreover, two domiciled or resident herds, one on Mr. 

 McMillan's farm and the other on that of Messrs. D. 

 Seth Smith and M. Ridley. These two herds have 

 remained on the same ground for many years though 

 the old bulls are systematically and regularly shot. 

 Their numbers are inclined to increase and they 



