APPENDICES 
A 
THE GIANT ELAND ( Taurotragus gig as) 
In Bahr-el-Ghazal 
{From Notes by Sydney J. Pearson, F.R.G.S.) 
THROUGHOUT the great province named Bahr-el-Ghazal there 
roam a limited number of herds of this, the biggest of Afric’s 
antelopes. These few herds, moreover, are chiefly confined to 
the “ iron-stone ” regions where water is either very scarce or 
absolutely non-existent. Water, in short, presents a grave and 
persistent obstacle to the pursuit of this thirstless animal. 
The giant eland being himself independent of water, his chase 
involves carrying from camp to camp whatever water is required 
for man and beast. In proof of this independence, the following 
incident may be cited. We had commenced this venture with 
several one-day attempts to overhaul a herd by spoor; all of 
these proved futile, partly because a twelve-hour day does 
not allow sufficient time; but largely through the adventitious 
interference of swarming giraffes. Therefore I decided on 
organising a more extended expedition into the territories of 
the Djur Chief, Dud Majok, where eland, I was assured, were 
more plentiful, giraffes less so. For this venture I selected a 
Jaalin Arab and four of the local chiefs, including a son of 
Majok, and his wakil, or deputy; also two donkeys, one 
laden with provisions for six days, the other with girbas or 
water-skins holding six gallons each. We had, besides, the 
canvas bottles and gourds for myself and men. It was upon 
this occasion that I was brought up against the complete 
indifference of the eland for water. On the second day out 
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