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from the nearest river, to which, however, it always makes when pursued. 
“Though a heavy-looking beast it can clamber with wonderful speed and 
sureness of foot up and down the steepest hillsides.” 
In some notes on the Antelopes of the Transvaal, kindly furnished 
tous by Mr. H. M. Barber, the Waterbuck is spoken of as follows :— 
“This Antelope is perhaps the most common of all, being widely dispersed 
over the whole of Eastern Africa. At Beira and up the Pungwe River they 
are indeed plentiful, and are to be seen in large droves, often sixty and a 
hundred together. From the month of March till August the old bulls are 
usually separated from the cows, and I have seen as many as fifteen in a 
troop, yet single bulls are also very frequently found. These creatures all 
resort to the reeds and rushes and marshes at night to feed, and are very 
easily shot at daylight when thus occupied. Shortly after sunrise they 
usually stray away from the river to higher ground, where a clear view can 
be got all round so as to see any approaching enemy. 
“Tt is not uncommon to find single bulls hidden in thickets either on the 
river banks or some distance away. When thus hidden they will often 
allow one to approach to within a few yards before breaking cover. If not 
much frightened they mostly trot away, and as a rule do not go very far 
before stopping, thus giving the hunter a chance of approaching them again. 
The Beira Waterbuck has by no means such large horns as those further 
down the coast on the Olifants River, near Delagoa Bay, and their horns 
have the peculiarity of being more upright and closer together. 
“From the habits of these creatures they fall an easy prey to lions and 
leopards, who seem to live principally upon them. Their flesh is very coarse 
and stringy, and is only eaten by the hunter when nothing better can 
be got.” 
Passing to the north of the Zambesi we find Mr. Crawshay recording the 
Waterbuck as by far the commonest of the Antelopes which go in herds in 
Nyasaland; all over the Protectorate, he says, this Antelope is plentiful 
both on the east and west coast of the Lake and on the plains of the 
Shiré River. Mr. Crawshay adds the following particulars as to its habits 
in Nyasaland :—‘‘ Waterbuck are always found in greatest numbers on large 
swampy plains overgrown with coarse grass, tall reeds, and papyrus, where 
in the wet season it is almost impossible to get at them. Unlike other 
Antelopes, except the Reedbuck, they do not appear to leave the lowlands in 
P2 
