of the Old World. 189 



pair of antlers, and to draw the herd if possible 

 towards their ambuscade. I divested myself of 

 my white pith hunting-cap, substituting a head-dress 

 formed of creepers, and cutting a number of pliable 

 twigs I interwove them into a kind of basketwork 

 screen, in which I fastened green boughs, so as to 

 make it resemble a bush as much as possible, leaving 

 an opening through which I could point my rifle. 

 When this was completed I sallied forth, taking care 

 to get to leeward, and seeking any cover I could 

 find, either behind bushes or from any slight undula- 

 tions of the ground, until I got to within five hundred 

 yards of the herd, who were quietly browsing, uncon- 

 scious of danger. 



Here I lay for some time at full length on the 

 ground behind my screen so as to give my com- 

 panions time to get posted, and taking out my tele- 

 scope I surveyed the herd for some time before I 

 could make out the position of the leader, whom at 

 last I twigged lying down and chewing the cud, 

 under the shade of a bauble-bush, some short distance 

 from the others. I stole gently forwards, sometimes 

 stooping and walking, and at others creeping on my 

 hands and knees (which is extremely laborious work), 

 until I got within two hundred yards of him, when, 

 feeling out of breath and rather unsteady, I rested for 

 some time. As soon as I had recovered my breath, I 

 slowly commenced my onward progress until I got 



