132 SAVAGE SUDAN 



acquisitive ambitions existed. One old bull, I remember, 

 only awoke to the peril of the situation after all his retinue 

 had utterly disappeared from sight ; although, in his case, 

 a faithful probably a favourite female with half-grown 

 calf had made stupendous efforts to arouse him. His 

 blank astonishment as he scanned the vacant horizon 

 V eyond was amusing to watch ; but presently when he 

 turned to survey the other horizon, that astonishment 

 was even deeper upon observing me close by! Another 

 morning, at dawn, a herd returning from the river, grazed 

 towards the woods, where they intended to pass the day. 

 We, being between them and their objective, lay quiet till 

 almost surrounded, when I sprang a gentle alarm. The 

 crowd scattered to right and left except the Sultan. He, 

 after looking up in mild surprise at his startled harem, 

 continued grazing though within half-gunshot. Many 

 similar instances could be recorded. 



Curiously the "demonstrations" described are always 

 silent, for the waterbuck of both sexes and of all ages is 

 absolutely voiceless. A similar remark applies to all the 

 hartebeests ; and also to roan, save that the young of the 

 latter habitually emit a loud ringing whistle almost bird- 

 like whereas old bulls are totally silent. Reedbucks 

 regularly "whistle," as all hunters know; so also do oribi. 

 Bushbucks bark, and the herds of lechwi keep up a low 

 long-drawn sheep-like note ; whereas their neighbours, 

 the white-eared cob, are wholly unendowed with vocal 

 powers. 



Fond as they are of pure water where the bottom 

 is sound waterbuck dislike real swamp and detest 

 treacherous bog. It amuses to watch a company of them 

 poking about the edges of such places, making good each 

 footstep, and however thirsty they may be, disdaining to 

 drink foul water, and avoiding wet feet as daintily as a 

 young lady crossing a muddy street. This applies to the 

 region of Sudd. 



At one point of that unspeakable swamp we lay 



