202 A HUNTER'S WANDERINGS ch. 



We had just turned the corner of the last bay, at 

 the farther extremity of which lay the canoes, when 

 we sighted a large herd ot buffaloes feeding knee 

 deep in the marsh about lOO yards from the shore ; 

 so, it being necessary that I should keep my large 

 party in good humour with an abundance of meat, I 

 resolved if possible to shoot a fat cow. The animals 

 were coming back towards the jungle, so I took up a 

 position behind a bush and waited for them, and, as 

 they advanced, fired at a cow, bringing her to the 

 ground, bellowing. On this the herd turned and 

 took to the water again ; but as they ran I fired 

 with my second gun and made a lucky shot, breaking 

 the spine of a young bull, and of course completely 

 disabling him. I then ran up to the cow, which was 

 struggling to rise, and finished her with another ball 

 behind the ear, whilst the natives went in and des- 

 patched the wounded bull with their assegais. The 

 herd not seeming to like the open turned after going 

 a short distance, and came back again at a gallop to- 

 wards the jungle, seeing which I threaded my way 

 along just within the edge of the bush and cut them 

 off. When they were about fifty yards from me 1 

 shouted, on which they pulled up, and stood one and 

 all with their noses raised, sniffing the air and gazing 

 towards where I was hidden. Profiting by this 

 pause, I took a quick aim at a fat cow and fired, 

 tumbling her on to her head. At the shot the whole 

 herd came on with a rush, not thinking of me, prob- 

 ably, but wishing to gain the shelter of the bush, and 

 to avoid being run over I had to throw down my gun 

 and hastily ascend a small tree. After finishing the 

 third buffalo, and cutting out its tongue, I walked on 

 to the canoes, as I felt ready for supper. 



On my arrival my two Makalakas told me that 



