FLEETNESS OF THE ANTELOPE. 91 
other instances might be adduced, both from sacred 
and profane writers. Throughout all parts of the 
East, the fleetness and timidity of the antelope tribe 
is still proverbial, and furnishes the Persian and 
Arab poets with images of gentleness, beauty, grace, 
and affection. The swiftest dogs and horses are 
left far behind in the pursuit of these animals, and 
it is only by stratagem that they can be hunted with 
success. 
For this purpose the hawk or the cheetah (fels 
jubata) is commonly employed in the East, and the 
roer, or various descriptions of snares and traps by 
the inhabitants of South Africa. The hawk, by 
attacking the animal about the head and eyes, 
harasses it and impedes its flight, till the hunter has 
time to come up; and the cheetah, like the rest of 
the cat kind, steals upon it unawares, and seizes it 
by a sudden spring before it has time for flight. If, 
however, the first spring misses in its aim, and the 
antelope escapes, there is no chance of taking it 
afterwards, and the cheetah, irritated by disappoint- 
ment, is soothed only with considerable difficulty, 
and becomes unfit for the chase for some days after- 
wards. The Bushmen often destroy vast numbers 
of the antelopes with which their country abounds, 
by poisoning the springs and reservoirs to which 
they are known to resort, nor is the flesh ever known 
to be injured by this mode oi slaughter: they also 
shoot them with poisoned arrows, but in this case 
