HUNTING THE GEMSBOK. 131 



loading rapidly as he rode, pressed forward in chase. 

 He was just preparing for another shot when his horse 

 stumbled and fell. This accident hurt neither horse nor 

 rider, but only enabled me to pass them, and kill an old 

 bull that lagged behind the herd. My horse now showed 

 signs of distress. We had not proceeded far, but the ground 

 was so undermined by colonies of meir-cat and mouse- 

 hunts, that the horse's feet sunk deep at every step ; so I 

 concluded to rest satisfied with my first achievements in 

 the way of gemsbok hunting. 



Mr. Barrill had gone to examine the animal he had 

 killed, and I had now leisure to do the same, in regard to 

 the old bull. The gemsbok is indeed a beautiful animal. 

 It has the erect mane, long, sweeping black tail, and ge- 

 neral appearance of the horse, with the head and hoofs of 

 the antelope. It is robust in form, squarely and firmly 

 built, and very imposing in its bearing. Its height is 

 about that of an ass, and in color it slightly resembles 

 that animal. Beautiful black bands adorn its head, giv- 

 ing it the appearance of wearing a stall collar. The rump 

 and thighs are painted in a very singular manner. The 

 horns are long and straight. I ascertained during my stay 

 in South Africa, that the gemsbok is the swiftest and most 

 enduring of all the animals hunted in that country. 



Following the directions of Mr. Barrill, who desired to 

 make as large a collection as possible, during his expedi- 



