154 A HUNTER'S WANDERINGS ch. 



which in the dim twilight appeared twice their natural 

 size. Though it is difficult to speak with any degree 

 of accuracy as to numbers, I think there could not 

 have been less than from two to three hundred, 

 the greatest part of them being cows, and young 

 animals not yet full grown, though here and there 

 I distinguished an old bull, one of the patriarchs of 

 the herd. They were advancing rapidly towards the 

 river, and soon, preceded by an old cow, which from 

 time to time stopped and sniffed the air suspiciously, 

 their foremost ranks stepped knee-deep into the water, 

 and after drinking their fill, gradually gave place to 

 those in the rear, and again commenced feeding 

 quietly up the valley. Until twilight had given place 

 to a clear starlight night, I watched this interesting 

 scene, standing just on the edge of the jungle, and 

 not twenty yards from the nearest of them. Being 

 well supplied with meat, I did not attempt to molest 

 them, and soon the last of the herd, having satisfied 

 his thirst, disappeared in the darkness of the night, 

 and I once more returned with renewed energy to 

 my interrupted supper. About an hour later, just 

 as, wrapped in my kaross, I was falling asleep, a 

 troop of lions commenced to roar not far down the 

 river, and I roused myself to listen to their deep- 

 toned muttering voices. They seemed to be advancing 

 steadily along the river towards our camp, roaring 

 grandly at intervals, and at length reached the place, 

 not thirty yards away, where the buffaloes had drunk. 

 Here they gave tongue in splendid style, making 

 the whole forest resound again, and causing me to sit 

 up and clutch my rifle involuntarily. Several times 

 during my three years' wanderings in the far interior 

 of Southern Africa, have I, when camped in a patch 

 of bush, or lying at a shooting-hole on the edge of 



