50 THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



antelope, in common with the Eland, partakes of it largely. From 

 the fact that there has been for more than one year a total absence of 

 rain in the Kalahari, or at least quantity in sufficient to be retained 

 on the surface of the soil, and when from some unexplained cause 

 the melon crop referred to has often failed entirely, it is tolerably 

 certain that this antelope is capable of existing without water, at 

 least for many months. It has been argued that in the absence of 

 this melon the Gemsbuck and Eland find a substitute in a certain 

 large white-coloured juicy root, resembling in size and shape a 

 Swede turnip, but this explanation is scarcely tenable, for, although 

 such a tuber undoubtedly exists, it is invariably found so deeply 

 engrafted in the soil as to make it quite a matter of impossibility for 

 any antelope to upropt it, no- matter what the formation of its 

 horns or hoofs may be. A great many stories have been told in the 

 past by famous hunters and travellers as to the beauty, ferocity, and 

 - wonderful fleetness of this antelope, but whether the Gemsbuck of 

 the present day has deteriorated or not, it certainly is not in the 

 possession of these qualities in any marked degree. Its horns are 

 unquestionably fine and its face prettily marked, but in other 

 respects the general appearance of the animal is heavy and unim- 

 posing. When wounded or brought to bay, it will no doubt defend 

 itself with vigour and desperation, using its formidable horns with 

 such effect as to deal immediate death to any dog which rashly 

 approaches it, but otherwise its ferocity does not by any means 

 equal that of the Roan Antelope or Waterbuck. In regard to 

 speed, it will keep in front of the ordinary shooting horse for a short 

 distance ; but, taking it all round, it is, perhaps, one of the easiesf of 

 the larger antelope to gallop up to, and can in no respect equal the 

 Giraffe, Hartebeest, Wildebeest or Tsessebe for fleetness or endur- 

 ance. Its flesh is very fair. 



The Sable Antelope {Hippotragus niger). Fig. 5, Plate II.— 

 {Zwaart vit-pens of the Dutch ; Kualata Inchu of the Bechu- 

 anas ; Umtigele of the Matabele.) 



\ Height of full-grown bull seldom exceeds 4 feet 6 inches. 

 General colour above, very dark shining brown, being almost black 

 in some individuals; belly and under portion of stern pure white; 

 forehead and upper portion of face dark brown, a ivhite stripe com- 

 mencing over both eyes and extending to nose, followed underneath 



