9 S LIFE WITH THE HAMRAN ARABS. 



markings in the two animals are quite distinct. The 

 maariffis the largest of all the antelopes of Central Africa, 

 and having been apparently first observed by Baker, it 

 has been classified by Herr von Henglin as the Hippo- 

 tragus BakeriL ' The colour is mouse-grey, with a black 

 stripe across the shoulders, and black and white lines 

 across the nose and cheeks. The height at the shoulders 

 should exceed fourteen hands, and the neck is orna- 

 mented with a thick and stiff black mane. The shoulders 

 are peculiarly massive, and are extremely high at the 

 withers. Both the male and female are provided with 

 horns ; those of the former are exceedingly thick, and the 

 points frequently extend so far as to reach the shoulders. 

 It invariably inhabits open plains, upon which it can see 

 an enemy at a great distance ; thus it is the most difficult 

 of all animals to stalk ' (Baker). The mehedehet is not 

 so large nor nearly so powerful an animal as the last 

 named. It is darker and has a more shaggy hide, and is 

 free from such special markings about the head ; and the 

 female is without horns. 



Emanuel returned this evening from the Hamran 

 village with a new hunter for Gumming, named Hamet, 

 and he has brought us the dread news that Sheik Aghill 

 will pay us a visit to-morrow. At baggage-camel rate 

 the journey lasted 9^ hours, so we may calculate the 

 distance at about 24 miles. Crossing the river on one 

 occasion they found a dead hippo, the property of Coke 



