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Updated: May 24, 2025
He had been shooting some of the various kinds of antelopes which abound in that country, under various names, such as wildebeests, springboks, blesboks, and pallahs, when the adventure occurred, which he thus describes.
"I could scarce credit my eyes. The whole plain, towards the west, appeared to be one vast crowd of animals; and by their bright yellow sides, and the snow-white hair on their rumps, I knew they were springboks. They were all in motion, some browsing along, while hundreds of them were constantly bounding up into the air full ten feet high, and leaping on top of each other.
They have been brought about by a population increasing beyond the means of subsistence, and have taken place as soon as the overplus have required it. "The migration of the springboks, which we witnessed yesterday, may be more frequent, but are not more certain than those of the central population of Africa.
That gave me pleasure, but I also saw that the sheep and goats had got mixed up with the springboks, and were moving off with them as if they belonged to the same species! I fear they are all lost." "And the lion?" inquired Hendrik. "Yonder he lies!" answered Hans, modestly pointing to a yellow mass out upon the plain, over which the vultures were already beginning to hover.
We might have slaughtered many more, but those we had got we could not carry home. Gutting up four animals, we loaded our horses with the meat, and then drew the remaining two into a hollow of a rock, and filled up the entrance with stones and sand, hoping to send for them in the evening. The springboks are so called from their wonderful agility.
"Look at the beautiful dying eye of that noble beast. Is it not speaking?" "Yes, imploring for mercy, as it were, poor creature." "Well, these three beasts, that they say are such good eating, weigh more than fifty antelopes." "More than fifty springboks, I grant. Well, what shall we do now?" "Let our horses get their wind again, and then we will see if we can fall in with some new game."
"In hopes of yet heading the springboks, and driving the sheep into the kraal, before the former crowded on them, I started towards the valley. But, to my chagrin, I could get no faster than the herd was going! "As I approached the creatures, to make my way through their mass, they leaped about and sprang over one another, but could not for their lives open a way for me as fast as I wanted one.
The giraffes were foolish enough to think, or act, as though the wilde honden were hunting them; and in place of remaining still and permitting the dogs to pass, or turning to one side, the foolish creatures ran on with the springboks. At the time they came up with the hunters, they were already exhibiting signs of distress. To Groot Willem it was a gratifying sight.
"I could scarce credit my eyes. The whole plain, towards the west, appeared to be one vast crowd of animals; and by their bright yellow sides, and the snow-white hair on their rumps, I knew they were springboks. They were all in motion, some browsing along, while hundreds of them were constantly bounding up into the air full ten feet high, and leaping a-top of each other.
"Now, Sar, now's you chance," said Mike, using the only English sentence he possessed, and laying hold of the bridle of my horse. I was on the ground and down on one knee in such a hurry, that to this day I know not by what process I got off the horse. Usually, when thus taken by surprise, the springboks stop for a moment or two and gaze at the kneeling hunter.
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