The Sable Antelope 405 



well adapted for stalking, as it was open and interspersed with enough 

 small patches of bush and thorn trees to afford good cover. 



Farther south in German territory the sable was not uncommon on the 

 north bank of the River Wami in the vicinity of Kidudwi. Here the 

 country is quite perfect from a stalker's point, being a succession of rolling 

 hills running parallel to one another, with plenty of ant-heaps dotted about, 

 besides being well timbered with large shady trees and quite park-like in 

 appearance. In each valley there was a small stream, mostly dry when 

 I was there in February 1887, fringed with bush and thorn trees. By 

 keeping along the top of one hill an extensive view was obtained of the 

 valley on each side and of the opposite hillsides, and it was only in a very 

 few places that stalking was really difficult and sometimes impossible. 

 Curious to say, however, the sable antelopes, except on one occasion, 

 invariably chose those difficult places, and the only time I ever succeeded 

 in getting within range of them — and I saw several small herds and made 

 many futile attempts to get near them — was more by luck than good 

 management. This was during a fog or thick morning mist, when I 

 unconsciously walked quite close up to a herd of about fifteen. My luck, 

 however, deserted me, as the bull, a grand beast, was standing behind a 

 large tree, facing me, and also much nearer to me than the rest of the 

 herd, which was quietly feeding, and I did not see it until I fired both 

 barrels at the best cow I could see. On several other occasions I think I 

 might have got within range had it not been for impala, or the ever- 

 watchful hartebeest (Bttbalis lichtensteini) , of which there were great numbers ; 

 but this is only one of the many vexations the sportsman has to put up 

 with in a country where game is plentiful. The head of the sable antelope 

 is always a grand trophy, but the finest I have ever seen in East Africa 

 cannot be compared with the heads from South Africa ; on the other hand 

 that country cannot show a gazelle like the G. grant/', or an impala like 

 those found near Lake Baringo. F. J. Jackson. 



