1 88 Wild Life in Central Africa. 



of the word klipspringer. The most noticeable features of 

 these animals are the long wiry hair, which will come out 

 with a hard stroke of the hand, and I have seen a bullet 

 send a shower of hair away after its exit from the opposite 

 side ; also the small feet, which are only worn do\vn in 

 front, as the klipspringer lives mostly among rocks and 

 hard ground, although they will often wander down to the 

 lower ground in the evening, and I have sometimes seen 

 their spoor in a native garden, near hilly ground. The 

 Boers use the hair to fill saddles with, as it is said not to 

 pack with use, and it is springy and light, in fact, just like 

 small quills. 



Only the males bear horns, and they are usually seen in 

 pairs, although a number of pairs may feed and inter- 

 mingle when feeding. I once counted eight couples of 

 these animals in an undulating valley on the plateau of a 

 long range of hills overlooking Fort Manning, in Central 

 Angoniland. 



Klipspringer meat I consider more tasty than that of 

 any other antelope, as it resembles tender mutton, and has 

 not the soft, insipid taste of some of the other species. 



They are most sporting little animals, and to get a shot 

 at one it is often necessary to climb high, when lovely views 

 of the surrounding country will be seen. I have climbed 

 many a lonely hill to look for them, many probably never 

 trodden by the feet of civilised man, and when doing so I 

 have kept my eyes open for minerals ; but I never found 

 any, probably because I know little about geology or 

 prospecting \vork. It is often the way that the first men 

 in a new country gain little, and those who follow are the 

 lucky ones. 



In running off, klipspringer often stop and look back 

 from the top of a big boulder, and thus offer a fine chance 

 for a quick shot. If they are startled and bolt, it pays to 

 wait, and not risk a doubtful running chance, as they will 

 likely have one look back before disappearing for good. 



Klipspringers are found throughout Africa, where the 

 country suits them, but it is hard work following them, 



