The Roan Antelope 411 



the longest cow horns 3 1 \ inches. This latter animal I shot on the open 

 downs of Mashunaland many years ago, and I have never heard of another 

 pair of roan antelope cow horns that approached this length. Towards the 

 end of the rainy season, say in March and April, roan antelopes get into 

 very good condition, and the cows often become really fat, and they are 

 then excellent eating. 



Indeed my own opinion is that neither the meat of the eland nor the 

 gemsbuck, nor that of any other South African antelope at any time of year 

 surpasses in juiciness and gaminess of flavour a sirloin of roan antelope when 

 in such high condition that it can be roasted in its own fat. The meat of 

 an old roan antelope bull in low condition is of course tough and tasteless, 

 but I have never known it so watery and insipid as the meat of elands usually 

 becomes towards the end of the dry season, after these animals have taken 

 to eating leaves. p. C Selous. 



In East Africa 



Kolongo of the Kinyamwesi ; Abu Maarcf, or Maharif, of Upper 

 Nile Arabs 



The existence of the roan antelope in East Africa was unknown to 

 Europeans before the year 1 890, when three (a bull and two cows) were 

 seen by myself and Mr. Gedge on the northern slopes of Mount Elgon ; 

 but as they were at a considerable distance it was impossible to determine 

 the species, whether the true roan or bakeri, and it remained in doubt 

 up till 1896, when a fine bull was killed on the Athi plains by the late 

 Captain Dugmore, R.N.R. The head of this beast was seen by several 

 men who had killed the roan in South Africa, and was identified by all 

 of them, but it was not until a year later, when it was brought home 

 by Dr. Hinde and presented by him to the National Museum, that all 

 doubt as to its being typicus was finally settled ; it was pronounced to 

 be the true roan and not bakeri. About the same time that Captain 



