8o ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



the credit of originally preserving the species from 

 extinction. 



THE BLESBUCK. Formerly existed in immense 

 numbers on the plains of the north-east of Cape Colony, 

 the Orange Free State, the Transvaal, and eastern 

 Bechuanaland. Though reduced to a mere fraction of 

 its ancient total, the species is in no present danger of 

 disappearance. This is due to the fact that herds are 

 now preserved on a great many farms in the two first 

 mentioned Provinces of the Union ; but being confined 

 within large fenced areas, and regarded by the farmers 

 in much the same light as sheep or cattle, they can no 

 longer be looked on strictly as wild animals. 



THE TSESSEBE or SASSABY. This is a larger animal 

 than either of the two preceding species, attaining a 

 shoulder height of about twelve hands, and weighing 

 some 300 pounds. Its colour is a rich plum, with black 

 face and points. The range of the tsessebe extends 

 through Southern Rhodesia westwards to north of Lake 

 Ngami, and eastwards through the north-eastern Trans- 

 vaal, Gazaland, and Portuguese East Africa generally, 

 south of the Zambezi. The Inkomati River, which is 

 formed by the union of the Crocodile and Komati Rivers, 

 at the Transvaal-Portuguese boundary, appears to be 

 its southern limit. The species spreads over all country 

 to the west of the Zambezi, across the Kwando and into 

 Angola. East and north of the former river it appears 

 to be much less numerous, and is said to be met with in 

 but one place in north-east Rhodesia where, however, its 

 horns exceed in size those of its kind from other parts 

 of Africa. It is not found at all north of ten degrees 

 south latitude. 



Tsessebe are grass-eating antelopes, favouring rather 

 open, and fairly flat, country ; never hills or thick jungle. 



