472 A HUNTER'S WANDERINGS ch. 



ness of vegetation along its banks, I do not think 

 that hippopotami could ever have been much more 

 plentiful about here than they are at the present 

 day ; so that as they do not every night make use 

 of the same path, the time required by them to 

 wear a track four inches deep with their soft feet 

 in this excessively hard rock, seems almost beyond 

 calculation. 



Late in the afternoon of this same day, as we 

 were approaching a small stream, an old buffalo bull 

 jumped out of the long grass in front of us, and 

 rushing down the bank climbed out on the farther 

 side ; upon reaching the top he turned to take a 

 look at us, standing broadside on. I only had my 

 little Express in my hands, and Jameson was some 

 distance behind, so I aimed for his lungs, high up 

 behind the shoulder, as I was afraid that the hollow 

 bullet would not penetrate the thick flesh and 

 shoulder-blade that would have to be pierced before 

 a bullet could reach his heart. On receiving: the 

 shot he galloped away at full speed, and we heard 

 him clattering over the stony ridge beyond ; we 

 were, however, soon on his spoor, which, from the 

 quantity of blood he evidently threw out from his 

 mouth and nostrils, was easy enough to follow ; we 

 had not very far to go, as we came upon him lying 

 dead, about 300 yards from where 1 had fired at 

 him. Upon cutting him up we found that the 

 little bullet had gone through the centre of both 

 lungs. That night we slept alongside of the carcase, 

 after being informed by our guide that we should 

 reach the junction of the rivers early on the follow- 

 ing day. 



August II til. — Up at daylight, and after a two 

 hours' scramble over the great masses of rock throuerh 



