3-028-286 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Hunting the Gemsbok in South Africa, 1870. 'The gemsbok (Oryx Capensis) is found in small herds over most of the drier regions of South Africa...Its long, straight, and sharply-pointed horns make it rather a dangerous animal if brought to bay. The dogs frequently suffer in the conflict with it; and even the lion, it is said, sometimes loses his life in the attempt to kill the gemsbok...Mr. Thomas Baines, whose sketch we have engraved, tells us that Mr. Henry Chapman and he once made an exploring trip to the southward of their road across the continent; and, just as the sun was setting, they came upon a small herd of gemsboks. They fired, and one appeared to be wounded; but Mr. Baines was soon called from following him to kill another which had been caught by the dogs, and which Mr. Chapman, from some accident to his gun, could not shoot. The animal was struggling desperately, and striking wildly with its horns; but the dogs had got within its guard, and were perfectly safe from the points though Mr. Baines, in approaching to get a shot, had to be rather careful of them. The flesh furnished an ample supper and a breakfast for their party, and they washed it down with a little water found in the footprint of an elephant'. From "Illustrated London News, 1870.