SOUTHERN AFRICA. loj 
out, and ofF the ground at the fame time, and at every fpring 
the hair on the rump divides or fheds, and, falling back on 
each fide, difplays a furface of fnowy whitenefs. No dog can 
attempt to approach the old ones ; but the young kids, which 
were now numerous, were frequently caught after a hard 
chace. Both old and young are excellent venifon ; and vaft 
numbers are deftroyed by the Dutch farmers, not only for the 
fake of the flefh, but alfo for the fkins, of which they make 
facks for holding provifions and other articles, clothing for 
their flaves, and, at the time of the capture by the Englilh, for 
themfelves alfo and children. The poverty and miferable con- 
dition of the colony were then fo great, that all their numerous 
flocks and herds were infufficient to procure them decent 
clothing. 
The gemfbok is alfo a very beautiful animal, and of a fize 
much larger than the fpringbok. It has none of that timidity 
which generally marks the character of the antelope ; but, on 
the contrary, if clofely purfued or wounded, will coolly fit 
down on its haunches, and keep both fportfman and dogs at 
bay. Its long, ftraight, lharp-pointed horns, ufed in defence 
by flriking back with the head, make it dangerous to approach. 
Dogs are very frequently killed by it ; and no peafant, after 
wounding the animal, will venture within its reach till it be 
dead, or its ftrength at leaft exhaufted. The flefh of the gemf- 
bok is reckoned to be the befl: venifon that Africa produces. 
The koodoo is fl:ill larger than the gemfbok, being about the 
heighth of a common-fized afs, but much longer. Its flirong 
P fpiral 
