428 Great and Small Game of Africa 



The eland, however, in common with the gemsbuck, springbuck, and 

 other antelopes, is independent of water, for although these animals drink 

 regularly in those parts of the country where water is plentiful, yet 

 nothing is more certain than that they are able to exist for long periods 

 without ever seeing water. During such times they probably obtain the 

 liquid necessary for their subsistence from wild water-melons, and various 

 roots which grow at a considerable depth below the surface of the ground 

 in the desert parts of South Africa, and some of which contain a great deal 

 of water. I have often seen the bushmen dig up these roots, which looked 

 something like turnips, but contained more water than an orange does 

 juice, and I have no doubt that the desert animals are able to scent them 

 and then scratch them up, the soil being soft and sandy ; indeed I have 

 often seen places where gemsbuck had dug up these roots. 



The flesh of the eland is often spoken of as if it were always superior 

 to that of all other African antelopes, but this has not been my experience. 

 When an eland is fat and in good condition its meat is most excellent, 

 juicy, succulent, and well flavoured, but it is not better than the meat of a 

 roan antelope or gemsbuck cow in really high condition. On the other 

 hand, in November and December, towards the end of the dry season and 

 the early part of the rainy season, elands get into very low condition, and, 

 the pasturage at that time being usually very dry and scanty, browse 

 on the leaves of various trees and bushes. At such times their flesh 

 becomes watery and tasteless, and is infinitely inferior to the meat of the 

 smaller antelopes, such as hartebeests, wildebeests, etc., at the same time of 

 year. In Mashunaland and South-Eastern Africa generally, elands are in 

 the highest condition during the months of March, April, and May. At 

 such times they are difficult to secure, as they are never found in open 

 country, but live amongst the broken, rugged hills, covered with thick 

 Mahobohobo forests and long coarse grass, which lie below the level of 

 the high plateaus. They are, too, at this season never found in large herds, 



