8o CATTLE 



desert their usual haunts in thick covert, and resort during the heat of 

 the day to the open mopani forests, where they can obtain a good view 

 in every direction. In such situations they could not have been 

 comfortable, as they were much exposed to the heat of the sun, but 

 they were fairly safe, as no enemy could approach unseen. 



" When pursued on horseback, a large herd of buffaloes will only 

 run at a slow heavy gallop, that a horse can keep up with at a hand 

 canter ; but a buffalo, though short in the legs and heavily built, is 

 capable of running at a great pace when so minded, and I have known 

 a wounded cow overtake and dash to the ground a horse going at its 

 utmost speed. This horse was indeed old and in poor condition ; but 

 a charging buffalo will press the best of South African shooting-horses 

 pretty hard for a short distance, and might even overtake them in 

 thick bush. 



" When a buffalo is wounded it always seeks thick covert, either in 

 jungle, reeds, or long grass, although, unless badly wounded, it will 

 not lie down for some time, but stands behind a bush or other covert, 

 listening intently, with its head turned in the direction of its tracks. 

 If approached incautiously in such a position it will charge, with 

 hoarse grunts, when its pursuer is v/ithin ten yards, and then nothing 

 except a shot in the brain or some other nerve-centre will check its 

 rush. As a buffalo always charges with its horns laid back on the 

 sides of the neck, and the nose held straight out in a line with the 

 back, it is very difficult to hit the brain, and a bullet in the chest, 

 right through the heart, even with a heavy rifle, will not stop a charge 

 at close quarters, though of course it will kill within a short time. A 

 wounded buffalo, if followed into thick covert, is thus a very dangerous 

 animal, as he is hard to see until you are close upon him, and difficult 

 to avoid or stop when he charges. Many accidents have happened 

 under such circumstances, but, considering the enormous number of 

 buffaloes that have been shot in South Africa, the accidents have been 

 proportionately few and far between. Personally I do not consider 

 the Cape buffalo to be naturally vicious or ferocious. 



" When wounded, a buffalo nearly always does its best at first to 

 get away, and so long as it is pursued through open forest, in which it 

 is able to see its assailant approaching from a distance, will seldom 

 charge but keep on retreating. When followed into thick covert it is, 

 however, a different matter, for a wounded buffalo may be expected to 

 charge should he suddenly see his enemy appear within a few yards. 

 In comparing the relative danger of buffalo-hunting and lion-hunting, 

 I put the matter thus. In ground where one might follow a wounded 



