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Hab. Swamps of the district of Lake Ngami and similar localities on the 
Zambesi and its tributaries; thence north to Lake Mweru. 
The discovery of the existence of an Antelope of this water-loving group 
in South-west Africa was made even before Speke obtained his specimens 
of the last species in Karagweh. The well-known traveller, Charles John 
Andersson, met with the “‘ Nakong,” as he calls it, during his explorations of 
Lake Ngami. In the volume descriptive of his four years’ wanderings, 
published in 1856, when calling attention to the great variety of large 
animals found in that district, more especially in the vicinity of the rivers, 
he mentions ‘‘ two new species of Antelope, the Nakong and the Leché,” and 
gives a lithographic plate, drawn by Wolf, to illustrate them as they appeared 
- in their native haunts. Not having before him actual specimens of the former 
Antelope to draw from, the great artist had apparently only Andersson’s 
somewhat imperfect information upon which to prepare his likeness of the 
“ Nakong.” He consequently gave a more prominent place in his illustration 
to the Leché (Codus lechee), and hid the Nakong in a reed-bed, leaving only 
its kudu-like horns, of which Mr. Andersson’s friend, Col. Steele, was 
fortunately able to supply specimens, plainly visible. Andersson speaks of 
the Nakong as a “‘ Water-buck,” which, by means of its peculiarly long hoofs, 
not unfrequently attaining a length of six or seven inches, is able to traverse 
with great facility the reedy bogs and quagmires with which the country 
abounds. 
Another well-known African explorer, Thomas Baines, who penetrated far 
into South-west Africa from Walfisch Bay a few years later, also mentions 
the akong as amongst several new or little-known Antelopes found in that 
district. 
About the same time also the South African Museum received specimens 
of this Antelope from the Lake Ngami district, through Mr. J. J. Wilson, of 
Otjimbinque, and Messrs. Chapman. Mr. Layard, in his Catalogue of the 
Mammals of that Museum, published in 1861, refers these specimens very 
doubtfully to Tragelaphus eurycerus, but shows very clearly by his description 
that they really belonged to the present species. 
Sir John Kirk, in his article on the Mammals of Zambesia, read before 
the Zoological Society in 1864, mentions the ‘‘ Nakong” as frequenting the 
papyrus and rushes on the River Chobé. He naturally refers it to Zragelaphus 
ver 
