146 Great and Small Game of Africa 



hartebeest will be unable at first to discover where the shots come from, 

 and will stand for three or more chances. 



All these large bovine antelopes, of which the oryx and hartebeest are 

 typical, require a good knock-down blow ; and though the Lee-Metford is 

 an effective rifle for this kind of shooting, if a near approach, say to from 

 1 50 to 200 yards, can be managed, there is nothing so suitable, in the 

 writer's opinion, as a .577 double express rifle. Hartebeests are very 

 tough, and take a lot of hitting unless a fairly powerful rifle is used. 

 The numerous ant-hills will give good cover to the stalker now and then. 



The best plan, on sighting hartebeests, is for the sportsman to ride slowly 

 along till he is within a quarter of a mile of the game and then dismount 

 and lead the pony, the hunters keeping close up ready to catch the bridle 

 and lead unconcernedly on when the sportsman drops down to fire. The 

 pony should be led along as if the party were going to pass the game, but 

 edging continually inwards so as to reduce the distance. When within 

 range an ant-hill will afford a convenient cover behind which the sports- 

 man can drop down, the remainder of the party, with the pony, going on. 

 The herd will continue gazing at the party without missing one of its 

 number until they have gone on into the distance. Meanwhile the con- 

 cealed sportsman may either fire from the ant-hill, or, if the ground is 

 favourable, crawl in towards the game, to get a nearer shot ; or he may, if 

 the hartebeests seem disinclined to move far and he is down wind of the 

 herd, wait until the party leading the pony has gradually circled round, so 

 as to drive the herd gently within shot of the ant-hill. 



Another way is to go out and lie in one of the higher tufts of grass, 

 and send a hunter round to give his wind to the herd. This is not a sure 

 method, as the herd may go off in the wrong direction, and it is very 

 irksome to have to lie long where there is no shade and a hot sun overhead. 



Masses of hartebeests are sometimes found with small herds of oryx and 

 Scemmerring's gazelles, in which case, on being disturbed, the oryx are the 



