THE ELAND 105 



as that which so frequently gives the alarm to 

 the rhinoceros — and partly, I am persuaded, 

 through their habit of posting, like the harte- 

 beestes, a sentry to apprise them of approaching 

 danger. 



I have always expressed the opinion that the 

 eland should never be hunted. On the contrary, 

 this splendid form should be sedulously pro- 

 tected, domesticated, and utilised. No antelope 

 with which I am acquainted yields such delicate 

 meat or such large quantities of fat and milk, 

 and perhaps no other is so easy to tame, or 

 would give back so rich a return for kindness 

 and good usage. A friend of mine in the Trans- 

 vaal has given me some most interesting facts 

 relative to several tame elands to which he is 

 greatly attached and which form an interesting 

 feature of his premises. He describes them as 

 being most extraordinarily intelligent, and cites 

 instances of their learning to unlatch with their 

 horns the gate of the vegetable gardens, and 

 make descents, both unauthorised and devastat- 

 ing, upon the cabbages and lettuces. He men- 

 tioned an amusing instance of the masterly 

 way in which, by the assumption of a threatening 

 attitude, they terrify the women and children 

 passing through the compound into dropping 

 their maize and millet baskets, and of the ap- 

 pearance of conscious rectitude with which they 

 appropriate and devour the spoils. All these 

 traits of character, therefore, seem to indicate 

 the advantages which would result from the 

 preservation and domestication of these glorious. 



