THE GNU. 139 



us, and the Hottentot leader had some difficulty in 

 holding in the oxen, which were much startled at its 

 appearance. I took out my rifle and shot it, when it 

 proved to be greatly diseased with what the Colonists 

 call the Brandt- sickie, and we supposed that on fall- 

 ing into this place it had been unable to extricate 

 itself. We took the horns, and left the body as a 

 feast for the vultures. 



The gnu is about the size of a full-grown ass. 

 The neck and tail precisely resemble those of a small 

 horse, and its pace, which is a species of light gal- 

 lop, is so perfectly similar, that a herd of gnus, when 

 seen at a distance scampering over the plains of South 

 Africa, might be readily mistaken for a troop of the 

 wild zebras, or quaggas, which inhabit the same 

 localities, if their dark and uniform colour did not 

 distinguish them. They live in numerous herds on 

 the Karroo — are naturally wild and difficult of ap- 

 proach, and when wounded will turn upon the hunter 

 and pursue him, dropping on their knees before 

 making an attack, and then darting forwards with 

 amazing force and celerity. When first alarmed, 

 they fling up their heels and caper like a restive 

 horse, tossing their heads and tails, and butting at 

 the mole-hills, or any other object that may happen 

 to be in their way, but immediately after, off they 

 start, traversing the desert with a speed which 

 soon carries them beyond the reach of danger. They 

 do not run in a confused crowd like sheep or oxen, but 



