NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



in order to make better use of their peculiar-shaped 

 horns. 



The eyes of the Hartebeest are set very high up 

 on the head, and when the animal elevates its head 

 to its maximum height, it is able to command an 

 extensive view of the veld. 



The skin has always been greatly sought after 

 by the Bechuanaland tribes of natives for making 

 large cloaks, better known as karosses. 



These antelopes are able to go for long periods 

 without drinking, for they have often been met with 

 in the north Kalahari during the rainless periods of 

 the year when no surface water was available. 



Like many other antelopes, they often congregate 

 at salt pans to lick the salt. These salt pans or 

 surface ponds of salt-charged water are common 

 in South Africa. Some of them are worked and 

 yield large quantities of excellent salt. Many of 

 the pans dry up completely for long periods owing 

 to the droughts which are so prevalent in the western 

 parts of South Africa. 



The Hartebeest, when captured young, soon 

 becomes docile and friendly, and will often go out 

 to graze with domestic cows in the morning, and 

 return to the homestead with them at sundown 

 for its evening feed of fodder. 



When observed moving about at its leisure in a 

 paddock, this rather hulking-looking animal does 

 not give the observer any inkling of the tremendous 

 powers of endurance and fleetness it possesses. 

 6 



