EXISTING GAME 11 



toll of the smaller antelopes. They are interest- 

 ing, handsome animals with beautifully spotted 

 skins and light-coloured bodies. Then come the 

 chita, the caracal, the tiger cat, and one or two 

 wild cats. Very freely distributed are the genets, 

 civets, and two kinds of mungoose; whilst the 

 spotted hyena is common everywhere. His 

 voice is heard every night in the interior, con- 

 sorting with the side-striped jackal and other 

 prowlers. But probably, for his numbers, the 

 greatest scoiu*ge of aU is the hunting dog, which, 

 throughout these districts, wanders about in 

 packs of from ten to sixteen or more. I know 

 of no more potent agency to clear a region of 

 its game than this bold, not unhandsome, much- 

 dreaded animal. Very far from shy, even when 

 approached by human beings, I have, however, 

 never heard of a case of their having molested 

 natives or others. Last year, having to pass 

 through a very weU-known game district, 1 was 

 much surprised to see in it neither game nor recent 

 spoor. On the second day's journey, however, 

 having to cross the sandy bed of a dry stream, 

 I saw what I believed to be the tracks of the 

 hunting dogs, and not much later in the day 

 they streamed across my path in full view like 

 a miniature pack of hounds. 1 was unable to 

 see what they were in pursuit of, but, such is 

 theh- speed and tirelessness, I felt sure it would 

 have but small chance of escape. 



Without dealing with the smaller forms — ^the 

 rabbits, porcupines, and others — ^to which refer- 

 ence will be made in a later chapter, the foregoing 



