A HERD OF TOPI 
159 
CH. VIl] 
face, and queerly shaped horns ; while the topi, although 
with a general hartebeest look, has the features of shape 
and horn less pronounced, and bears a greater resem¬ 
blance to his more ordinary kinsfolk. In the same way, 
though it will now and then buck and plunge when it 
begins to run after being startled, its demeanour is less 
pronounced in this respect. The topi’s power of leap¬ 
ing is great. I have seen one, when frightened, bound 
clear over a companion, and immediately afterward over 
a high anthill. 
The herd of topi we saw was more shy than the 
neighbouring zebra and hartebeest. There was no 
cover, and I spent an hour trying to walk up to them 
by manoeuvring in one way and another. They did not 
run clear away, but kept standing and letting me 
approach to distances varying from four hundred and 
fifty to six hundred yards, tempting me to shoot, while, 
nevertheless, I could not estimate the range accurately, 
and was not certain whether I was over or under¬ 
shooting. So I fired more times than I care to mention 
before I finally got my topi—at just five hundred and 
twenty yards. It was a handsome cow, weighing two 
hundred and sixty pounds, for topi are somewhat 
smaller than kongoni. The beauty of its coat, in 
texture and colouring, struck me afresh as I looked at 
the sleek creature stretched out on the grass. Like the 
eland, it was free from ticks, for the hideous pests do 
not frequent this part of the country in any great 
numbers. 
I reached camp early in the afternoon, and sat down 
at the mouth of my tent to enjoy myself. It was on 
such occasions that the 44 pigskin library ” proved itself 
indeed a blessing. In addition to the original books 
we had picked up one or two old favourites on the 
