4i6 A JOURNEY IN 
come too near them. They are represented indeed to be so 
wild and ferocious, that this people seldom venture to attack 
them like other deer with the hassagai, but take them gene- 
rally by digging pits in the ground and covering them over 
with sticks and earth. This animal appeared to be near five 
feet high, the colour a cinereous blue, and shape not unlike 
that of the Nil-ghau of India, the Antelope picta. Its mane 
is black, long, and flowing over each shoulder ; its beard is 
long and pointed ; the tail short and naked ; the horns from 
fifteen to eighteen inches long, pointing backwards, and bent 
/ into a circular curve, embracing about a fifth part of a whole 
circumference, annulated from the root to about two thirds of 
the length. Several of these horns were brought by the party 
to the Cape. The Takheitse is generally found in pairs, and 
when disturbed they usually take to the wooded heights, which 
were here very finely covered with the common mimosa and 
that on which the camelopardalis feeds. Numbers of both 
kinds were loaded with the nests of the gregarious finch. 
The woods and thickets being well stocked with buffalos, 
Avhose flesh is savoury and good and hide particularly valuable 
to the boors, as being the best and toughest for traces and 
otherwaggon furniture, a party went out with a determination to 
spend the day in the chase after these huge animals. They 
presently started a whole herd, and at the first volley suc- 
ceeded in bringing doAvn a large cow. The herd dispersing 
in every direction, three of an enormous size with a young calf 
were observed to rush into a thicket close to the spot where 
the waggons and the tents were placed. Daniell the secretary 
and Schultz the overseer of the waggons having marked tlie 
