2o8 TIFLIS. 



with short stiff tails erect over the plains their 

 horns for some reason unnoticeable in the distance 

 they looked to me quaintly like large grey dogs, 

 with none of the deer-like attributes with which 

 fancy had endowed them. Once we had found 

 one band, the whole plains seemed to be alive with 

 them, racing about from point to point or standing 

 rigidly at gaze. To see them and to long for a 

 nearer view was one thing, to obtain that view 

 quite another. Fired at continually by the Tar- 

 tars, hunted by the sheep-dogs, though little hurt 

 by either, they were as shy as any living thing 

 could be. Stalking them was out of the question, 

 and they made all attempts to surround them 

 futile by breaking through the line almost before 

 it began to close in on them. Nearer than five 

 hundred yards we seemed doomed never to get, and 

 after half a day's ceaseless fag and a few wild shots 

 at impossible ranges, my friend L. got disgusted, 

 gave it up, and went home. 



Towards mid- day we reached the low hills 

 which bounded the plain on the side farthest from 

 the canal and our home, and in my eagerness to 

 secure an antelope I found I had lost sight of my 

 companions with the horses. This troubled me 

 very little, as I knew the way back ; and if I did not 

 find my friends before nightfall I felt quite capable 

 of getting back on foot. 



All over these plains near Tiflis, and in fact 



