, and antelopes, covering the whole face of the country as
far as the eye could reach, moving about in masses to and fro, joining
each other and separating, so that the whole plain appeared alive with
them.
"Is not this splendid?" cried the Major "Such a sight is worth all the
trouble and labour which we have undergone. What would they say in
England, if they could but behold this scene?"
"There must be thousands and thousands," said Alexander. "Tell me,
Swinton, what beautiful animals are those of a purple colour?"
"They are called the purple sassabys," replied Swinton; "one of the most
elegant of the antelope tribe."
"And those red and yellow out there?"
"They are the hartebeests. I wish to have male and female specimens of
both, if I can."
"See!" said the Major, "there is a fine flock of ostriches. We are
puzzled where to begin. Come, we have surveyed the scene long enough;
now forward,--to change it."
They rode down, and were soon within shot of the animals, and the rifles
began their work. The Hottentots commenced firing from various points,
and, alarmed by the report of the guns, the animals now fled away in
every direction, and the whole place was one cloud of dust. Our
travellers put their horses to their speed, and soon came up with them
again, as their numbers impeded the animals in their flight. Every shot
told, for it was hardly possible to miss; and the Hottentots, who
followed on foot, put those that were wounded out of their misery. At
last, the horses were too fatigued and too much out of wind to continue
the pursuit, and they reined up.
"Well, Alexander, this has been sport, has it not?" said the Major.
"Yes, a grand battue, on a grand scale, indeed."
"There were three animals which you did not observe," said Swinton; "but
it was impossible to get at them, they were so far off; but we must try
for them another time."
"What were they?"
"The elands, the largest of the antelope tribe," replied Swinton, "and
the best eating of them all. Sometimes they are nineteen hands high at
the chest, and will weigh nearly 2,000 pounds. It has the head of an
antelope, but the body is more like that of an ox. It has magnificent
straight horns, but they are not dangerous. They are easily run down,
for, generally speaking, they are very fat and incapable of much
exertion."
"We will look-out for them to-morrow," said the Major. "See how the
vultures are hovering over us; they know
|