BETWEEN ANGOLA AND THE ZAMBESI. 
513 
a sheep, and are curved at the points. This arrange¬ 
ment of its feet and its sedentary habits render this 
remarkable ruminant unfitted for running. Its life is 
therefore, in a great measure, passed in the water, it 
never straying far from the river-banks, on to which it 
crawls for pasture, and then chiefly in the night-time. 
It sleeps and reposes in the water. Its diving powers 
are equal, if not superior, to those of the hippopotamus. 
During sleep it comes near to the surface of the water, 
so as to show half its horns above it. It is very timid 
by nature, and plunges to the bottom of the river at 
the slightest symptom of danger. It can easily be 
captured and killed, so that the natives hunt it success¬ 
fully, turning to account its magnificent skin and 
AMBUELLA PIPE. 
feeding off its carcass, which is, however, but poor meat. 
Upon leaving the water for pasture, its little skill in 
running allows the natives to take it alive; and it is 
not dangerous, even at bay, like most of the antelope 
tribe. The female, as well as the male, is furnished 
with horns. There are many points of contact between 
the life of this strange ruminant and that of the hippo¬ 
potamus, its near neighbour. The rivers Cubangui, 
Cuchibi and the Upper Cuando offer a refuge to 
thousands of Quichobos, whilst they do not appear 
either in the Lower Cuando or the Zambesi. I explain 
this fact by the greater ferocity of the crocodiles in the 
Zambesi and Lower Cuando, which would make short 
work of so defenceless an animal if it ventured to show 
itself in their waters. 
