262 
SPORT AND WAR. 
CHAP. XXVII. 
CHAPTER XXVII, 
A DAY AMONGST THE GNUS. 
On one of my early hunting expeditions into the interior 
of South Africa, while the game was still plentiful both 
within and beyond the borders of the Cape Colony, I 
remember having what I shall call a very fair day’s 
sport among the gnus, or African bison. 
They are a peculiar animal—something between the 
ox and the antelope—and are generally found in great 
herds; but old 4 bulls ’ are often turned out from the 
herds by younger aspirants, and 4 dot ’ over the plains 
by themselves, like 4 rover ’ elephants. They are in ap¬ 
pearance the most grotesque of all African game, for 
though not of large size they looR almost as big as 
buffaloes. This arises partly from their peculiar shape. 
They have comparatively very small hind quarters, while 
they are high in the shoulder and deep in the chest; 
added to this, they have a very deep dewlap and a 
bristly mane, which stands upright, and adds much to 
their apparent size. 
It is said by the natives of South Africa that the 
