90 
Anon it shall be shown that in point of shape and contour, the Bontebok and the Blesbok bear to each other the closest resem- 
blance, being equally robust, hunch-backed and broad-nosed, and rejoicing in the same whimsical and fine venerable old goatish 
expression of countenance. But the species here delineated, is both more soberly clad, and more remarkably skewbald than 
that which will be hereafter portrayed, the legs being perfectly white from the knee downwards instead of along their inner 
sides only, and the crupper moreover being marked with a white disc or gusset. The lyrated horns, which are alike placed 
vertically on the summit of the cranium, are in the Bontebok jet black, whereas they are light brown in the Blesbok; but the 
two animals possess in common an abrupt snowy blaze down the face, a white belly, a hoary glazed back,-as if it wore a 
saddle, and fiery red eyes. Rarely intermixing, the habits of the species are yet precisely similar. They resort to the same 
localities, are equally addicted to the use of salt, and excepting in certain embarrassed situations, invariably scour against the 
wind, holding their square noses close to the ground, as though they were running scent. 
The Bontebok, or painted goat—largest of all the Gazelles— has long ceased to exist within the Colonial limits in those 
enormous multitudes that are described by early travellers as spreading over the wide plain like a flock of Springboks; 
but a few are still preserved in the District of Zwellendam, through the potent influence of a penalty of Rix-dollars five 
hundred, which has been attached to the destruction of a specimen without especial license from Government. Anxious on 
my return from the Tropic, to ascertain whether the animal thus rigorously protected, differed in any respect from that 
found in the interior, as pretended by the Colonists, I obtained, through the kindness of Sir Benjamin D’Urban, a formal 
warrant, duly signed, sealed, and delivered, affecting the lives of some four individuals. Armed with this instrument, we 
proceeded through Zoétendals V'ley, on our way from Zwellendam to the metropolis, and after having been grossly insulted 
by a surly Dutch boor named De Toit, than whom no savage could more closely resemble a wild beast, set up our head- 
quarters near the hospitable mansion of Mynheer Oédendal. Lower down the valley towards Cape L’Agulhas, — that melan- 
choly scene of so many appalling shipwrecks,—lay the extensive estate of Field Commandant Laurens, the merriest old 
sportsman and most warm-hearted Hollander I have ever met. My writ being duly produced, leave was readily accorded 
to shoot over these lands, on which were several herds, comprising in all about three hundred head; but they proved the 
wildest of the wild, and after I had ridden all my horses to a stand, I was fain to confess that to obtain permission to 
Slay a Bontebok, was a far easier business than to turn that permission to account. The following day however old Laurens 
obligingly came in to my assistance, and first exacted a solemn promise that I would not inform against him for becoming an 
accomplice in the murder without a government license, harnessed a team of frisky young horses to his long travelling wag- 
gon, which, besides myself, carried no fewer than four inside and two outside passengers, armed each with a species of swivel. 
No sooner was a herd perceived making for a particular point — their broad white muzzles raking close to the ground like a 
pack of fox hounds—than the Field Commandant standing on the coach box, cracked his long whip with an astounding 
report, and set off at a Dover-mail-pace across the flats to intercept them, taking in his orbit, ploughed fields, dykes, ditches, 
and embankments, with the most reckless indifference to the probable consequences. As might reasonably have been anticipated, 
one of the many ginjals exploded, carrying with its contents one half of the brim of a hat, and a very considerable portion of 
the canvass awning above our heads; but in spite of this untoward disaster, and the subsequent fracture of a trace or two, 
our forces were so judiciously dropped behind convenient cover, as opportunity served, that the herd, from being puzzled in a 
corner, became at last fairly checkmated. Running ring in an attempt to extricate themselyes from this unpleasant dilemma, the 
capias was presently served upon the bodies of three out of the four individuals; and these proved amply sufficient to satisfy not 
only my curiosity, but my inclination for such sport, so immediately following upon the glorious scenes of the interior, where 
“Sorrow it were, and shame, to tell, 
The butcher’s work that o/? befel,” 
i on A STP I nip, eras EO 
LORD AT LI OREO, COS RIF CSHPVCH: Of CABLES SELIFRS. 
ba at’ : WF 
