If The Horse Is An Especially Good One, So
That The Kongoni Feels Himself A Trifle Closely Pressed, The
Latter Stops Bouncing And Runs.
Then he simply fades away into
the distance.
These beasts are also given to chasing each other all over the
landscape. When a gentleman kongoni conceives a dislike for
another gentleman kongoni, he makes no concealment of his
emotions, but marches up and prods him in the ribs. The ensuing
battle is usually fought out very stubbornly with much feinting,
parrying, clashing of the lyre-shaped horns; and a good deal of
crafty circling for a favourable opening. As far as I was ever
able to see not much real damage is inflicted; though I could
well imagine that only skilful fence prevented unpleasant
punctures in soft spots. After a time one or the other feels
himself weakening. He dashes strongly in, wheels while his
antagonist is braced, and makes off. The enemy pursues. Then,
apparently, the chase is on for the rest of the day. The victor
is not content merely to drive his rival out of the country; he
wants to catch him. On that object he is very intent; about as
intent as the other fellow is of getting away. I have seen two
such beasts almost run over a dozen men who were making no effort
to keep out of sight. Long after honour is satisfied, indeed, as
it seems to me, long after the dictates of common decency would
call a halt that persistent and single-minded pursuer bounds
solemnly and conscientiously along in the wake of his disgusted
rival.
These and the zebra and wildebeeste were at Juja the most
conspicuous game animals. If they could not for the moment be
seen from the veranda of the house itself, a short walk to the
gate was sufficient to reveal many hundreds. Among them fed herds
of the smaller Thompson's gazelle, or "Tommies." So small were
they that only their heads could be seen above the tall grass as
they ran.
To me there was never-ending fascination in walking out over
those sloppy plains in search of adventure, and in the pleasure
of watching the beasts. Scarcely less fascination haunted a
stroll down the river canyons or along the tops of the bluffs
above them. Here the country was broken into rocky escarpments in
which were caves; was clothed with low and scattered brush; or
was wooded in the bottom lands. Naturally an entirely different
set of animals dwelt here; and in addition one was often treated
to the romance of surprise. Herds of impalla haunted these edges;
graceful creatures, trim and pretty with wide horns and beautiful
glowing red coats. Sometimes they would venture out on the open
plains, in a very compact band, ready to break back for cover at
the slightest alarm; but generally fed inside the fringe of
bushes. Once from the bluff above I saw a beautiful herd of over
a hundred pacing decorously along the river bottom below me,
single file, the oldest buck at the head, and the miscellaneous
small buck bringing up the rear after the does.
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