ELANDS 
269 
CH. Xl] 
table. The country alternated between bare plains and 
great stretches of sparse, stunted thorns. We saw 
zebra and two or three bands of oryx ; big, handsome 
antelope strongly built and boldly coloured, with long 
black, rapier-like horns. They were very wary, much 
more so than the zebra with which they associated, and 
we could not get anywhere near them. 
Next day I hunted along the edges of a big swamp. 
We saw waterbuck, but were unable to get within shot. 
However, near the farther end of the swamp, in an open 
swale, we found four eland feeding. The eland is the 
king of antelope; and not only did I desire meat for 
camp, but I wished the head of a good bull as a trophy 
for myself, the eland I had hitherto shot being for the 
National Museum. The little band included a big bull, 
a small bull, and two cows. At a distance the big bull 
looked slaty blue. The great sleek handsome creatures 
were feeding in the long grass just like cattle, switching 
their long tails at the flies. The country looked like a 
park, with clumps of thorn-trees scattered over the 
grassy sward. Carefully I crept on all-fours from tree- 
clump to tree-clump, trying always to move when the 
elands’ heads were down grazing. At last I was within 
three hundred yards, when one of the cows caught a 
glimpse of me and alarmed the others. They were 
startled, but puzzled, and, after trotting a few rods, 
turned to stare at the half-seen object of their alarm. 
Rising to my knee, I shot the big bull in the throat as, 
with head erect, he gazed in my direction. Off’ he went 
with a rush, the others bounding and leaping as they 
accompanied him, and we followed on the blood spoor. 
Bakhari and Gouvimali trotted fast on the trail, and in 
order to be fresh for the shot I mounted Tranquillity. 
Suddenly out bounced the wounded bull from some 
