1812. 
REMARKS ON THE SPRINGBUCK. 
109 
ascended a rugged kloof practicable only for cattle. A representation 
of this pass is given in the vignette at the end of the chapter. 
At this high level, we entered upon a very extensive open plain, 
abounding, to an incredible degree, in wild animals ; among which 
were several large herds of quakkas, and many wilde-beests or gtiues : 
but the springbucks were far the most numerous, and, like flocks of 
sheep, completely covered several parts of the plain. Their uncer- 
tain movements rendered it impossible to estimate their number, but 
I believe if I were to guess it at two thousand, I should still be within 
the truth. This is one of the most beautiful of the antelopes of 
Southern Africa ; and it is certainly one of the most numerous. The 
plain afforded no other object to fix the attention ; and even if it had 
presented many, I shouldnot readily have ceased admiringthese elegant 
animals, or have been diverted from watching their manners. It was 
only occasionally, that they took those remarkable leaps which have 
been the origin of the name ; but when grazing or moving at leisure, 
they walked or trotted like other antelopes, or as the common deer. 
When pursued, or hastening their pace, they frequently took an extra- 
ordinary bound, rising with curved or elevated backs, high into the 
air, generally to the height of eight feet, and appearing as if about to 
take flight.* Some of the herds moved by us almost within musket- 
shot ; and I observed that in crossing the beaten road, the greater 
number cleared it by one of those flying leaps. As the road was quite 
smooth, and level with the plain, there was no necessity for their 
leaping over it ; but it seemed that the fear of a snare, or a natural 
disposition to regard man as their enemy, induced them to mistrust 
even the ground which he had trodden. 
* When Mr. Barrow asserts of the springhuch (Trav. p.lO*.) that " its usual pace 
is a constant jumping or springing, with all four legs stretched out, and off the ground at 
the same time," he only proves how little he himself knew of a subject on which he was 
attempting to give information to others ; and presents us with a specimen of the accuracy 
with which his book has been put together. I do not mean to say that in this description 
he is guilty of any intentional misrepresentation ; for I really believe that he wrote it as 
well as he could. 
