112 SABLE ANTELOPE— ROAN ANTELOPE 



and these are, in such circumstances, much more 

 easily brought to bag than when guarded more 

 or less by the presence of a number of shy cows 

 and calves. 



The Roan Antelope, a near relative of 

 the sable, but lacking both his splendid horns 

 and vivid colour contrasts, is nevertheless a 

 variety of Zambezian game of more than or- 

 dinary interest. Nowhere very numerous, his 

 haunts may be said almost to coincide with those 

 of the sable — ^to " march " with them, as they 

 would say in North Britain ; but the two are 

 rarely if ever found in the same district. Roan 

 antelope occur in small companies of seven or 

 eight at a time. I have seen and shot several in 

 the country to the west of Quelimane which is 

 drained by the Lualua River, as also on the lower 

 slopes of M^upa Mountain, where, as in the low 

 country surrounding the source of the Lugella 

 stream, they are far from uncommon. I have 

 been told that they are to be found in the Pinda 

 and Morumbala districts, but have never seen 

 them, although familiar enough with this part of 

 the country. In a book which he published some 

 few years ago, Mr. F. Vaughan Kirby speaks of 

 having met with this animal in the Gorongoza 

 district, south of the Zambezi, and in the char- 

 tered Mozambique Company's territory. This I 

 can only regard as a case of mistaken identity, 

 for I feel convinced that this antelope is nowhere 

 to be found in the country lying to the west of 

 the port of Beira. If further reasons were want- 

 ing, Gorongoza is far too mountainous a district 



