A TWELFTH ON THE EQUATOR 
55 
out, I pushed forward on the right, but only succeeded 
in heading some jackals and small pig, besides seeing a 
tawny-brown cat or lynx ; and, the country becoming 
wooded, we got separated. Holding on alone, I presently 
found myself on the same marsh where we had shot the 
sing-sing that morning. Old spoor of three elephants 
led along the edge of the vlei —it was the first I had 
seen, and I was horrified by its size!—and several 
waterbuck cows still awaited their lost lord. 
The hour being late, I resolved to remain awhile on 
the chance of some strange animal emerging from the 
great reedy fastness at sunset. The idea was vague, 
but it had a concrete reward. Presently something did 
appear, and the glass showed this to be a tawny-hued 
antelope with strong recurved horns—a new beast for 
the second time this day! 
At 200 yards he stood, nothing more than a yellow 
head and neck showing amidst contrasting green flags. 
I fired three shots with the ’303 carbine, each aimed at an 
unseen shoulder somewhere, I knew not precisely where, 
beneath. All this time the buck stood statuesque—as 
it were, hypnotised. The fourth shot, directed at the 
head itself, went true, striking below the eye with 
instantly fatal result. Elmi carried our prize ashore 
from a foot of water—a lovely creature, the East-African 
reedbuck (Cervicapra wardi), quite new to me, and 
the only specimen we obtained that year. 1 
This is a smaller animal than the common reedbuck 
(which is not found in East Africa), its live-weight 
probably not exceeding 80 or 90 lbs.; the pelt is rougher 
and more tawny than that of the larger species, and the 
horns more abruptly hooked forwards. They measured 
in this specimen 9j ins., by 6 ins. around the base. 
This antelope has the broad, fan-like, flirting tail with 
1 We have since found them quite numerously in suitable 
localities, as is mentioned later in this book. The valley of the 
Alabanyata, indeed—down which we had just travelled without 
seeing a single reedbuck—abounded with these antelopes on our 
next visit, eighteen months later. 
