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Show 1892.] ANTELOPES OF NORTHERN SOMALILAND. 301 jungle till fresh tracks are found. These are followed till the game is sighted. By throwing stones towards the Oryxes, whistling, and other signs, which the dogs thoroughly understand, they are shown the game, and settle down to their work methodically. The dogs run mute, the men following at a crouching trot, which in a Somali is untiring, and this lasts for a mile or two, when the dogs run into their game and open in chorus round the herd of Oryxes as it stands at bay. The Oryxes make repeated charges at the dogs, which are often badly wounded. The dogs generally try to pull down a calf, avoiding the mother's sharp horns. Sometimes the whole herd will charge the dogs together to rescue a calf. The Midgans come crouching up amongst the bushes and let off a flight of poisoned arrows into the mass of Oryx. On seeing the men, the herd breaks up like a bursting shell. An animal wounded by one of these arrows takes a line of its own, and is carefully followed till found dead, or it is easily pulled down by the dogs in its weak state. I have often joined the Bulhar Midgans in their trips. They sleep out night after night under the trees, guarded by the half-tamed dogs. Their camping arrangements are primitive. They slightly roast the Oryx-meat in the fire and eat it nearly raw. If one has no matches, one may have the pleasure of helping them light a fire by rubbing two sticks together. It takes twenty minutes ; special wood has to be selected. It would take Europeans a very long time to get a light. The pariah dogs have no affection for their masters, and growl and snap when approached ; but, curiously, when hunting they are very obedient and obey every sign or call. The skin on the withers of a bull Oryx is about | inch thick. The average length of horns in a good bull is 32 inches, in a cow 34 inches. Young Oryxes when caught and confined in a cage will sometimes show their stubborn, wild nature by charging the bars, head down, and killing themselves. A case of this occurred in Berbera. Oryxes are by no means fast Antelopes, and when wounded are easily ridden down. The young calves are very like those of English cattle, but smaller, with stumpy black horns a few inches long. They give out a peculiar half-bleat, half-bellow, when attacked by dogs or wounded. Oryxes sometimes strike sideways with their horns as we use a stick. When angry an Oryx suddenly lowers his horns till they are nearly parallel with the ground, and makes a dash forward with surprising swiftness. Lions are very fond of Oryx-meat. I have often seen Oryxes in company with Hartebeestes and Gazelles. Once I saw a small herd with some of the Flabby-nosed Gazelles, and amongst them were two Ostriches. 2. THE KUDU (Strepsiceros kudu). Gddir or Gorialeh-G6dir (male); Ader-yu (female); Ader-yu (collective name for herd-animals of both sexes and all ages). P R O C ZOOL. Soc-1892, No. XXI. 21 |
