WITH FLASH-LIGHT AND RIFLE 



heavy trot, then in a pretty fair gallop. Before they 

 change their pace they make a number of high jumps, a 

 performance which is quite remarkable, considering the 

 weight of the animals. 



I often found elands far away from water, without 

 which they apparently can go for days. They prefer- 

 ably feed on sweet grass, but also browse on slender 

 sprouts of bushes and trees. 



Although I know that eland antelopes are found in 

 the mountains, I was yet greatly surprised when I saw, 

 for the first time, a herd just below the belt forest in 

 an impassable jungle of jasmine, vernonia, and smilax, 

 more than six thousand feet above the sea. 



Later I observed them beyond the forest region in 

 the shrubs and bushes. I noticed them also very often 

 in the mountain forests and on the open spaces in the 

 woods. As I found the eland less numerous in the 

 plain about the time of the dry season, I have good rea- 

 son to believe that the mountain eland and the eland of 

 the plains are one and the same species. The eland 

 very rarely associated with other species of antelopes. 

 They are timid and absolutely harmless ; even wounded 

 bulls hardly attempt to defend themselves. 



The flesh, especially of the young animals, is exceed- 

 ingly good eating, except in the dry season. It is re- 

 ported to be the best game-meat in Africa. The hide, 

 too, is much valued, but is very difficult to prepare for 

 preservation. 



286 



