The Eland 42,9 



but are scattered in ones, twos, and threes, or little herds of four or five to 

 eight or ten in number all over the country. 



At night they are very fond of raiding the native corn-fields, jumping 

 over the fences which surround them and seldom or never going through 

 the openings left by the natives, in which pitfalls neatly covered over with 

 grass have been dug for their reception. Long experience, which has at 

 last become an hereditary instinct, enables them to avoid these traps. Long 

 before daylight they leave the corn-fields and make for the hills, often 

 climbing to the top of a rugged and steep ascent and taking up a position 

 at the top, from which they will be able to view or scent any one who 

 follows on their tracks ; and long before one reaches the place where they 

 are resting, they will be down the other side of the hill, no matter how 

 steep it may be, and away up the side of another, amongst the thickly 

 growing Mahobohobo trees, at a pace that makes it very difficult to over- 

 take them. Indeed, speaking generally, it may be said that in broken, 

 hilly, thickly timbered country, in the early part of the year, before the long 

 grass is burnt off, a horse cannot live with an eland. At this time of year 

 the old bulls are nearly always alone, and are always in thick forest or 

 very broken country (I am speaking of South-East Africa). They are, too, 

 excessively shy and wary, and altogether one of the most difficult of all 

 animals to bag at this season. In June — in early years in May — the natives 

 commence to burn the grass on the high plateau of Mashunaland, and the 

 elands probably smell the smoke in the air, and commence to hanker after 

 the sweet young grass, which they know will soon spring up in the valleys 

 where the old grass has been burnt away. They gradually collect into 

 herds, and, leaving the shelter of the hills and forests farther and farther 

 behind them, wander all over the open grassy downs ; and, when encountered 

 in such situations, they can be ridden into and shot with the greatest ease. 

 As soon as they commence feeding on the young grass, they fall off in 

 condition very rapidly. In open country elands fall an easy prey to 



