TRAVELS IN 
is really fo; for underneath it is of a pure 
white, and in its natural fiiuation this part is 
entirely concealed. Now all the hair on the 
rump grows from a ftrong tifTue of mufcular 
fibres, by means of which the animal can, at 
pleafure, extend or contract the fkin ; fo that^ 
when extended, the upper hair is laid fiat to 
the right and left, and that below only, which 
is perfectly white, remains expofed to view, 
and even covers the reft. I cannot better de- 
fcribe this operation, than by comparing it to 
the aftion of opening and fhutting a book 
placed on its back. 
Another fad, more difficult to be explained, 
is the prodigious multiplication of thefe ante- 
lopes in a country infefted vnth carnivoroos 
animals, which it every where produces. I 
had in other places met with a few of their nu- 
merous flocks ; but, when i beheld this, I often 
wondered how fo many thoufands of animals, 
which, by their number, muft have dried up 
the ftreams, and confumed the pafturage of a 
whole diftrid, could live in a place fo barren 
and deditute of water. But though antelopes, 
as well as goats, have not the fame need of 
drink as other animals, they doubtlefs com- 
monly 
