JAGING SPRINGBOK. 89 



with the intention of joining me in the gemsbok coun- 

 try, and enjoying >along with me, for a few days, the 

 exciting sport of " jaging" that antelope. I did not pro- 

 ceed very far that evening, my men being intoxicated, 

 and having several times very nearly capsized the Vrag- 

 ons. I halted shortly after sundown, when, all the work 

 with the oxen and horses falling upon me, and no fuel 

 being at hand, I was obliged to content myself by din- 

 ing on a handful of raw meal and a glass of gin and 

 water. On the following day we performed two long 

 marches, crossing the Sea-Cow Eiver, and halted as it 

 grew dark on a Boer's farm where the plains were cov- 

 ered with springbok. Here Gampbell had instructed 

 me to await his arrival, and next morning he was seen 

 approaching the wagons, mounted on the " Immense 

 Brute," and leading two others. 



Having breakfasted, we started on horseback to "jag" 

 springbok and wildebeest, ordering the wagons to pro- 

 ceed,to a vley about four miles to the west. We gal- 

 loped about the plains, loading and firing for about six 

 hours. The game was very wild. I wounded three 

 springboks and one wildebeest, but lost them all. 

 Campbell shot two springboks. The first was entirely 

 eaten by the vultures (notwithstandmg the bushes with 

 which we had covered him), and skinned as neatly as 

 if done by the hand of man. The second had its leg 

 broken by the ball, and was making oflF,.when a jackal 

 suddenly appeared on the bare plain, and, giving him 



chase, after a good course ran into Mm.* 



• 



* This ia a very remarkaUe and not unfrequent occurrence. Often, 

 when a springbok is thus wounded, one or more jackals suddenly ap- 

 pear and assist the hunter in capturing hU quarry. In tbemore distant ■ 

 huntmg-lands of the interior, it sometimes happens that the lion assists 

 the sportsman in a similar mamier -with the larger animals ; and though 

 this may appear like a traveWs story, it is nevertheless true, and in- 



