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this Antelope, which was characterized by Gordon-Cuming—the great African 
hunter—as ‘“‘one of the loveliest animals which graces this fair creation.” 
Harris writes in one of his works that “‘ the desire nearest to his heart” from 
the beginning of his journey had been to “ discover something new”; and in 
the present instance he certainly succeeded. But we will let him tell his 
story in his own words. 
When encamped on the Cashan Mountains in what is now the north- 
western part of the Transvaal, in 1856, as he writes in his volume on ‘ Wild 
Sports in Southern Africa,’ he achieved his success as follows :— 
“My double-barelled rifle having again suffered in a fall with my horse, I took the 
field on the 138th December with a heavy weapon constructed upon the primitive 
principle of flint and steel, which, as a pis-aller, I had obtained at the Kuruman. 
“ Our party were in full pursuit of a wounded elephant, when a herd of unusually 
dark-looking antelopes attracted observation in an adjacent valley. Reconnoitring them 
through a pocket-telescope from the acclivity on which we stood, I at once exclaimed 
that they were new; and having announced my intention of pursuing them, if requisite, 
to the world’s end, I dashed down the slope, followed by the derision of the Hottentots, 
for my unsportsman-like attention to an ‘ ugly buck,’ one specimen of which, however, 
I assured them I would rather possess than all the elephants in Africa! In an instant 
J was in the middle of the herd, which was then crossing the valley—nine chestuut- 
coloured does leading, and two magnificent coal-black bucks—all with scimitar-shaped 
horns—bringing up the rear. Hastily dismounting, I was delighted to observe them 
stand for a few seconds within fifty yards, and stare at me with amazement. In vain 
was it, however, that I pulled the trigger of my rifle; three several times the heavy 
machinery of the lock descended with alarming vehemence, but no report followed the 
concussion; and the herd having in the meantime ascended a steep hill, I fairly rode 
my horse to a standstill in the attempt to overtake them. Cursing my hard fortune as 
I dashed the hateful weapon to the ground, I hastened to the camp to repair my rifle; 
armed with which, aad mounted on a fresh steed, I returned with my companion to the 
spot, where, having taken up the footmarks, we followed them, with unwearied 
perseverance, among the hills, during the whole of that and the following day, without 
attaining even a glimpse of the objects of our quest. At noon of the third day, 
however, peeping cautiously over a bank, our laudable assiduity was rewarded by the 
gratifying sight of the two bucks grazing by themselves, unconscious of our approach, 
in a stony valley. 
“ Having disposed our forces, after a moment’s consultation, so as to intercept the 
game from a tangled labyrinth of ravines, the attack was made. The hind leg of the 
handsomer of the two was dangling in an instant, and in another he was sprawling on 
the earth. Quickly recovering himself, however, he led me more than a mile over the 
sharp stones ere he was brought to bay, when, twice charging gallantly, he was at length 
overthrown and slain. 
VOL. IV. F 
