vast plains of young grass, interspersed with green
hush, stretehed to the horizon. The soil was an
exceedingly rich loam, most tenacious when wetted;
far as the eye could reach to the north and west
of Cassala was the dead level plain, while to the
south and east arose a broken chain of mountains.
We~ had not proceeded many miles, when the
numerous tracks of antelopes upon the soil, moistened
by the shower of yesterday, proved that we had
arrived in a sporting country; shortly after, we saw
a herd of about fifty ariels (Gazelle Dama). To
stalk these wary antelopes I was obliged to separate
from my party, who continued on their direct route.
Riding upon my camel, I tried every conceivable
dodge without success. I could not approach them
nearer than about 300 yards. They did not gallop
off at once, but made a rush for a few. hundred
paces, and then faced about to gaze at the approaching
camel. After having' exhausted my patience to
no purpose, I tried another plan: instead of advancing
against the wind as before, I made a great
circuit and gave them the wind. No sooner was I
in good cover behind a mimosa bush than I dismounted
from my camel, and, leading it until within
view of the shy herd, I tied it to a tree, keeping
behind the animal so as to be well concealed. I
succeeded in retreating through the bushes unobserved,
leaving the camel as a gazing point to
attract their attention. Running at my best speed
to the same point from which I had commenced my
circuit, and keeping under cover of the scattered
bushes, I thus obtained the correct wind, and stalked
up from bush to bush behind the herd, who were
curiously watching the tied camel, that was quietly
gazing on a mimosa. In this way I had succeeded
in getting within 150 yards of the beautiful herd,
when a sudden fright seized them, and they rushed
off in an opposite direction of the camel, so as to
pass about 120 yards on my left; as they came by
in full speed, I singled out a superb animal, and
tried the first barrel of the little Fletcher rifle. I
heard the crack of the ball, and almost immediately
afterwards the herd passed on, leaving one lagging
behind at a slow canter ; this was my wounded
ariel, who shortly halted, and laid down in an open
glade. Having no dog, I took the greatest precaution
in stalking, as a wounded antelope is almost
certain to escape if once disturbed when it has laid
down. There was a small withered stem of a tree
not thicker than a man’s thigh; this grew within
thirty yards of the antelope; my only chance of
approach was to take a line direct for this slight
object of cover. The wind was favourable, and I
crept along the ground. I had succeeded in arriving
within a few yards of the tree, when up jumped
the antelope, and bounded off as though unhurt;
but there was no chance for it at this distance, and
I rolled it over with a shot through the spine.
Having done the needful with my beautiful prize,
and extracted the interior, I returned for my camel