Several  varieties  of  antelopes  are  described  by  the
early  explorers  in  Africa,  but  generally  under  the
native  names.  The  accounts  are  not  suflBciently  full  to
make  identification  possible^  An  animal  called  a  hnt  or
darU  is  frequently  mentioned,  whose  hide  appears  to  have
been  valued  in  commerce.  One  writer  tells  us  that  the
skin  is  red,  another  that  it  is  white;  according  to  one
traveller  it  has  long  goat-like  horns,  another  declares
Aat  it  is  entirely  without  these  appendages.  John  Leo
pays  a  visit  to  Cairo,  where  he  finds —

"a  beast  called  lant  or  dant,  in  shape  resembling  an  oze,  saving  that
he  hath  smaller  legs,  and  comlier  homes.  His  haire  is  white,  and  his
hoofs  are  as  blacke  as  jet,  and  he  is  so  exceeding  swift  that  no  beast
can  overtake  him,  but  onely  the  Barberie  horse.  He  is  easier  caught
in  summer  then  in  winter,  because  that  in  regard  of  the  extreme
fretting  beat  of  the  sand  his  hoofs  are  then  strained  and  set  awry,  by
vhich  meanes  his  swiftnesse  is  abated,  like  as  the  swiftnesse  of  stagges
ttd  roe-deere.  Of  the  hide  of  this  beast  are  made  shields  and  targets
of  great  defence,  which  will  not  be  pierced,  but  onely  with  the  forcible
■hot  of  a  bullet^  but  they  are  sold  at  an  extreme  price."  (Purckas,
▼oL  iL  p.  846.)

Pigafetta,  in  his  account  of  Congo  and  the  surrounding
country,  writes : —

"  There  are  also  to  be  found  in  this  conntrie  certaine  other  foure-
footed  beasts,  somewhat  lesse  then  oxen,  of  colour  red,  with  homes


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138         The  AnimalrLore  of  Shakspeare^a  Time.
