viii LARGE HERD OF BUFFALOES 147 



doubt that this valley formed a favourite route to 

 and from the river, and made a mental note of it, as 

 a good place to watch for them on moonlight nights. 

 As it was already late when I started, I had not gone 

 very far beyond this point, when, warned by the 

 disappearance of the sun behind the tree -tops that 

 not much more than half an hour's daylight remained, 

 I turned to retrace my steps, in order to reach camp 

 before dark. On again arriving at the open valley 

 mentioned above, I found it occupied by a large 

 herd of two or three hundred buffliloes, that had 

 emerged from the surrounding jungle during my 

 absence, and were now feeding quietly down towards 

 the river for their evening drink. Though I hardly 

 liked to fire, for fear of disturbing elephants, some 

 of which might, for all I knew, be within hearing, 

 yet, on the other hand, I had a strong desire to 

 secure a nice tat buffalo steak for supper, and at last 

 forgetting all more prudent resolves, and sympathising 

 with the feelings of my Kafirs, who kept entreating 

 me to shoot them a fat cow, I took my four-bore 

 elephant gun and advanced towards the still un- 

 conscious herd, resolved to kill one if possible. 

 Those that were nearest were about 120 yards 

 from the edge of the bush, beyond which there 

 was no shelter, save that afforded by a few large 

 scattered goussy trees. However, by creeping 

 cautiously forward on my hands and knees, I 

 managed to get within 80 yards or so, when an 

 old cow observing me, raised her head and gazed 

 steadily towards where I crouched. There was no 

 time to be lost, as I saw she was thoroughly alarmed, 

 so, singling out a fine fat cow, that stood broadside 

 on close beside her, I raised my heavy gun, and 

 taking a quick aim behind her shoulder, fired. The 



