362 MAMMALIA—GNU. 
upon their knees ; and in this attitude they approach, and when they are 
sufficiently near, spring and dart at each other with great violence. 
In a state of confinement they often fall into that posture without doing 
any mischief. They will, notwithstanding, attack mankind unprovoked. 
A laborer, who was locking over some pales which inclosed several of them, 
was alarmed by one of them flying at him with the quickness of lightning ; 
but the wood-work which separated him from the animal, was the means 
of his safety, as it dashed it to pieces and broke off one of its horns close to 
the root. The death of the animal, which happened soon after, was suppos- 
ed to be owing to the injury it received from the blow. 
In the days of Aurungzebe, they abounded between Delhi and Lahore, on 
the way to Cachemir; and they were once objects of chase with that 
mighty prince, during his journey. They were inclosed in nets by his army 
of hunters, which, being drawn’ closer and closer, at length formed a small 
space; into this the king, his omrahs, and hunters, entered, and killed the 
animals with arrows, spears, or muskets; and sometimes in such numbers, 
that Aurungzebe used to send quarters as presents to all his great people, 
which proves that they are esteemed as good and delicious food. 




Tne gnu is one of the swiftest beasts that ranges the plains of Africa, 
Mr Barrows says, “The various descriptions that have been given of it, all 
differing from each other, should seem to have been taken from report rather 
than from nature, notwithstanding that one of them was for some time in 


1 Antilope gnu, GMEL. 
