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Show 660 MR. R. CRAWSHAY ON THE [Dec. 2, and only come down to the plains from their mountain fastnesses at night, returning again at the break of day. There aie Koodoos, I am told, in the hills at the back of Karali and Bana, and I saw a fine pair of horns, of which the bearer was killed by Mr. Alfred Sharpe, between the former place and Mwazi's. In 1889 I passed a lot of spoor in the neighbourhood of Taowira (Kapyira's) and Kaundi, at the foot of the range of mountains which run inland about north-west from Mount Waller (Chombi); and in Kapvira's village, on the Chimbwiriri River, I saw a Koodoo bull's skull." In the hills about Mweniwanda's (Chirenji), I have been told there are a good many Koodoos, but I have not visited that district. However, as I have said, Koodoos are common practically to all Nyasa-land, especially in the rugged wooded highlands away from the haunts of men; occasionally they are met with on the plains, but never far from hills, which they leave at night for the low country, returning again at daybreak. Like Elands, they are fond of browsing on the young and tender shoots of trees and shrubs, especially in the dry season, when the grass has been burnt off and has not had time to grow. When alarmed, Koodoos sometimes give vent to a low bark-best imitated by anyone inflating the lungs with air and then expelling it open-mouthed ; but this bark-if bark it can be called-is only audible at close quarters. The horns of this animal are very generally seen in the possession of Nyasa natives, who use them for hubble-bubble pipes and also as war-horns; but they furthermore are made to do duty, like most other Antelope horns, as receptacles for native "medicine" and are hung suspended in the houses or outside under the eaves of the thatch, according as the contents are expected to act. 9. HlPPOTRAGUS NIGER. The Sable Antelope or Harris-buck, " Mpula-mpala" of tbe Anyanja, " Mbarapi" of the Ajawa, " Mpala-mpala " of the Achewa, Angoni, Ahenga, and Anyika, is not by any means evenly distributed, but in parts appears to be plentiful, especially in forest highlands, its favourite haunts. I have myself only once seen these animals in Nyasa-land, and that was in 1885, iu the Yao hills, between the south-east corner of the Lake and Shirwa ; there were just a pair standing watching me from the crest of a hill. In the Chirenji country (Mweniwanda's), I hear, they are plentiful, and Mr. Alfred Sharpe showed m e the horns of a bull killed by himself in that district. In the " Ma-suku " forests of the Apoka Mountains they are also said to exist, but. I was never lucky enough to come across any. Sable Antelopes must be very plentiful in parts-judging from the number of horns in the possession of the natives, especially Ajawa and Machinga, who use them as powder-horns, and I think they |