"hunting" versus "shooting." 67 



for several days, growing weaker and weaker, eating little, and lying down a great 

 deal, till some hyaena, growing bolder as the wounded animal grows weaker, makes 

 a dash for its stomach and tears out its bowels. 



The above two methods of " shooting" are those usually employed, but all sorts 

 of variations in manoeuvres are seen. Some sportsmen curtail the preliminary 

 moves and at once bring a heavy fire to bear on their quarry, hoping by " power 

 of fire " to compensate for the disadvantages of range. Others expect to be carried 

 up to their game In a hammock, the exertion of walking being too great for them. 

 Many people in England may think that such a statement is gross exaggeration. 

 I can assure them, though, that not only have I seen this done, but I have also heard 

 the sportsmen talk loudly of their sporting prowess or complain bitterly at their 

 want of luck in getting near game in this way. 



Other people walk over the flat, open, treeless plain in a crouching attitude, 

 imagining that by so doing they will escape observation from the several hundred 

 pairs of eyes watching their every movement. It is an amusing sight to watch with 

 glasses a figure, dressed in khaki so as to be inconspicuous, crouching along with 

 head close to the ground like the proverbial ostrich, while another part of the body is 

 very much in evidence. 



I remember watching such a figure from a distance, crouching about for the best 

 part of an afternoon, occasionally stopping to fire a few rounds and then crouching 

 on again. Behind him stalked erect three boys, carrying spare rifles and other 

 belongings, possibly a spare case of ammunition ; but this may be imagination. One 

 of these boys wore a red fez, and another a white coat ! 



However, it is only fair to admit that anyone who treks about the country much 

 has occasionally perforce to resort to some such manoeuvres, for when crossing the 

 plains, meat is no less a necessity than at other times and must be got, and, as 

 I said previously, it cannot be expected that weighty tinned meats should be carried 

 wherever one goes, nor does one's work or objective allow of lengthy shooting 

 excursions being made en route. It also seems rather absurd to take seriously to the 

 pursuit of such an animal as the common Coke's hartebeest when all that is wanted 

 is to secure meat. 



Of the Coke's hartebeest I roughly estimate that there are at least a quarter of 

 a million in the Southern Game Reserve and about the same number spread over the 

 rest of the administrated portion of the country. The horns of this animal could 

 hardly be considered as much of a trophy even if it were not so common. So there 

 is no need to select one animal more than another, as long as a female or young 

 one is not shot. 



