The bank upon which the yagers had encamped was about five or six feet
above the surface of the water, as it now stood. The bank on the
opposite side also rose above the water level; but on both sides there
was a break or declivity that sloped down into the channel. These
breaks corresponded with each other. They were not natural gorges, but
had evidently been made by heavy animals, such as rhinoceroses and
others, that were in the habit of coming either to drink or ford the
river at this point. The tracks of many kinds of animals could be
distinguished leading down to the water or up into the meadow--so that
the place was evidently a "drift," or crossing-place for the wild beasts
of the country around.
Perhaps at night many would cross here, and Hendrik and Groot Willem had
resolved to watch that night and have a little moonlight sport. A
moon--and a very fine moon--was expected; for the queen of the heavens
was nearly in the full at the time, and the sky all that day had been
without a cloud.
But they were destined to enjoy a little sport before the moon arose--
even before the sun had gone down.
While engaged around the wagons, their attention was attracted by a
movement among the reeds on the opposite side of the river. There was
also an open space on that side corresponding to the meadow in which
they were encamped. Around the opening grew a thick brake of tall
reeds, interspersed with willows and other low trees. It was among
these reeds that the movement was observed.
Presently a large animal came out of the covert, and stepped boldly
forward into the open ground, where the short sward enabled them to see
it from horn to hoof--for it was a creature with hoofs and horns--
without doubt an antelope.
It was a species, however, which none of the party had ever seen
before--an antelope of majestic form and elegant proportions.
It stood nearly five feet in height by full nine in length, and its
general colour was a greyish sepia brown. Its face, however, was of a
deeper brown around the bases of the horns and over the frontlet tinged
with rufous. The lips and muzzle were white; a white patch marked the
throat; a white streak was before each of the eyes; and a curious oval
band of white encircled the tail. The hair over all the body was harsh,
more resembling split whalebone than hair; but that which covered the
neck was longer than the rest, and stood out all around like a mane on
end. The horns were nearly three feet in length, and curved first
upwards and then slightly inwards. They were closely ringed to within
six inches of their tips, and of a whitish green colour. The tail of
the animal was about eighteen inches in length with a tuft at its tip.
The shape and set of the horns, the rigid hair that grew all around the
throat and neck, and the elegant upright bearing of this antelope,
enabled the naturalist Hans to tell his companions to what species it
belonged. It was the famed "waterbuck," (_Aigocerus ellipsiprymnus_).
I have said "famed" antelope, because the waterbuck is in reality one of
the finest and most famous animals of the whole tribe.
Its name would seem to imply that it was a dweller in the water. Such,
however, is not the case. It is called waterbuck because it is never
found far from the banks of a river or other water, in which it delights
to plunge, and bathe itself during the hot sunshiny hours of the day.
Of course it is an excellent swimmer, and, indeed, such confidence has
it in its powers of swimming, that when hunted or pursued by whatever
enemy, it makes directly for the river and plunges in, no matter what
depth may be the water. It is the habit of many species of deer to make
for water when hunted, but with them the object is to throw the hounds
off the scent, and having once crossed a river, they continue on through
the woods. Now the waterbuck does not leave the river for any great
distance. It either swims downstream, or, having gone out on the
opposite bank, returns to it, after making a short detour through the
woods. It seems to regard the water as its haven of safety, and when
overtaken usually stands at bay in the very middle of the stream.
It loves to dwell along rivers where there are marshy banks covered with
tall sedge and reeds; and at certain seasons of the year, when these are
partially inundated, the waterbuck is rarely seen--as it then makes its
haunt in the very heart of morasses which are impenetrable to the
hunter. Its long spreading hoofs enable it to pass with safety over
marshy grounds, where other species of antelopes would be "mired" and
destroyed.
The waterbuck has been classed by naturalists with antelopes of the
_aigocerine_, or goat-horned group; but it differs greatly, both in
horns and habits, from any of these, and deserves to be ranked as an
antelope _sui generis_. If it were established as a separate genus, it
would not stand alone, since another "waterbuck"--evidently a second
species--has been discovered by late explorers a little farther to the
north, upon the shores of the Lake Ngami. The latter is termed by the
natives the "leche," and in the shape of its horns, and most of its
habits, it bears a decided generic resemblance to the _Aigocerus
ellipsiprymnus_.
Still a third species of waterbuck has turned up during the recent
explorations to the afore-mentioned lake; but this, though in habit very
similar to the others, differs widely in regard to its physical
characteristics. Its horns are of the spiral form, greatly resembling
those of the koodoo, (_Strepsiceros koodoo_), and naturalists are
disposed to class it in the genus _Tragelaphus_. Its name among the
natives is "nakong."
The reason why none of our young hunters were _personally_ acquainted
with the waterbuck was, that none of them had ever seen it before; and
the reason why none of them had seen it was, because it is not found in
any part of the country through which they had hitherto travelled. It
is altogether a tropical or sub-tropical species, loves a warm climate,
and does not range so far south as the Cape settlements. It is possible
that there may be other species by the rivers that run through the
unknown interior of Africa; for between that southern territory, which
has been yet explored, and the Great Saara, there lie many strange
countries, and many strange creatures, of which the geographer and the
naturalist yet know nothing.
So, my boy reader, if you should be desirous at any period of your life
to achieve the reputation of a Bruce, a Park, a Denham, a Clapperton, or
a Lander, you need not fear the want of an opportunity. There is still
enough of "unexplored Africa" to employ adventurous spirits for perhaps
a century to come. At all events the ardent naturalist will find plenty
of new ground up to the new year's day of 2000! That I can safely
guarantee.