163 
whom I had three, pointed to a long green streak of rushes about three miles off, which, 
they assured me, was very much frequented by the game I was in search of. Progression 
now became more difficult, as the water not only became much deeper, but firm footing 
was more uncertain, owing to the burrowing of fish in the alluvial soil. One of my 
guides now took the lead, and with the end of his long fish assegai tried every inch of 
the ground in front as we went along. Notwithstanding his solicitude on my behalf, I 
had the misfortune to plunge head forward into a hole, thoroughly saturating my 
clothing and filling my rifle with water. It was nearly four o’clock in the afternoon 
when I arrived at another small island within 300 or 400 yards of the fringe of reeds I 
have before alluded to, and which was really the bed of the Taoke choked up by rotten 
vegetation and papyrus-roots, the river slowly percolating through the mass. Having 
enjoyed an hour’s rest on this haven of safety, and the favourable time having arrived, 
I again proceeded onwards, and found that my work up to that time had been merely 
child’s play, compared to that which I now had before me. There was no footing 
whatever obtainable, with the exception of a network of papyrus-roots, which stretched 
along in every direction, and was just sufficiently tough to support a man, the bog moving 
up and down at every footstep. To add to the charm of the situation, the mosquitoes, 
prematurely disturbed from their afternoon siesta, rose in clouds from the rotten swamp, 
biting my face, neck, and hands most viciously. Groping and staggering along in this 
manner till about an hour before sundown, I had seen no game, and was just beginning 
to give it up as a bad job, when one of the Makobas pointed out the figure of an animal 
lying, or standing, with a portion of its back and the whole head out of the water, about 
200 yards away. It was a Nakon ram, carrying a very fine pair of horns ; but from 
the position he was placed in, I saw there was no earthly chance of killing him at the 
distance. Thinking to approach a little, I advanced cautiously; but had scarcely 
proceeded a dozen yards when, as if out of the water, not more than 60 yards off, up 
jumped another one, bounding along crossways with a most convulsive-looking movement. 
I took a very hasty shot, and had the satisfaction of seeing the animal tumble over 
with a big splash in the water. It turned out, unfortunately, to be a doe, full-grown, 
with a young one at foot. I had shot my first Nakon, and I solemnly affirm it will 
certainly be my last, except under much more favourable circumstances. An attempt 
to bring out the carcase that night being utterly useless, two Makobas slept on the 
small island, and I myself turned back to the village, where I arrived long after mid- 
night, and, although completely done up with fatigue, could not sleep a wink, owing to 
the myriads of mosquitoes which preyed on me the whole night long.” 
From Lake Ngami the little animal thus captured was carried by Mr. Nicolls 
and his companions in their waggon 800 miles to Kimberley, and thence 
brought by rail and steamer to London. On arrival at the Gardens it was 
placed in a sheltered compartment of the Gazelles’ sheds, in which the yard 
in front was covered with dried peat-fibre in order to suit its elongated hoofs. 
Accompanying the Secretary's Report on the additions to the Society’s 
