388 Great and Small Game of Africa 



cut into a long thong, which makes a most serviceable rope for tying their 

 loads on camels. 



When oryx are in good condition the meat is excellent, but that of an 

 oryx calf is a positive dainty. Many a time have I made a mid-day meal 

 off slices of oryx-liver, toasted in the wood ashes, and a marrow-bone. If 

 no matches are forthcoming, Somalis make fire by rubbing two pieces of 

 dry stick together, of some particular wood. The Midgans hunt oryx with 

 dogs, which bring the beast to bay, when they creep up and shoot it with 

 poisoned arrows. They also use a camel to stalk it with. The oryx seems 

 to be a very favourite prey of lions. I have frequently found the remains 

 of one with the tell-tale pugs around. 



I remember once, in Ogaden, when tracking a troop of eight lions 

 through some open bush, finding that they had suddenly spread out in 

 wide skirmishing order ; as we went on we read the story by the tracks 

 in the sand. They had been trying to stalk some feeding oryx, and 

 eventually dashed in on them, but without success. 



A wounded oryx should be approached with care ; he is a vindictive 

 beast, and full of courage, and, if not disabled, will make a determined 

 dash at any one coming near, using his sharp horns often with fatal 

 precision. The bulls seem to be very pugnacious, and I have shot several 

 with only one eye. An oryx with a single horn is by no means uncommon, 

 and I can imagine no nearer resemblance to the unicorn. 



Though I have had many unsuccessful hunts after oryx, I do remember 

 one red-letter day. I was sorely in need of meat for my large number 

 of men at the time. I eventually saw five oryx feeding in some open 

 mimosa bush, and after a long stalk succeeded in getting up to within 

 1 50 yards. I knocked over two right and left. The others stood again 

 atter going a short way, and I shot a third and wounded another. The 

 remaining one stuck to his wounded comrade, and I eventually shot him 

 too. Not a scrap of this meat was wasted, as we smoked and dried in the 



