CAPE BUFFALO (BOS CAFFER). 83 



The reverse does not follow, as elephant go where buffalo do not. 



Buffalo, with rhino and gnu, are among the only animals that truly love wild 

 country, and are practically never found in proximity to human habitation As a rule 

 there is a belt of absolutely uninhabited country round British territory over the border 

 from which the natives have trekked to come within the British sphere, and in such a 

 belt, often two to three days' journey across, these animals like to roam. Such is their 

 dislike to mankind that, on smelling a human being or seeing camp fires at night, they 

 will generally at once trek off to another part of the country. 



They like large, grassy dambos to graze in and shrubby or thick bushy country 

 to lie up in. 



They are also very fond of the thick spear-grass thickets which are found on the 

 banks of streams and rivers. 



They are sometimes found at considerable altitudes, should there be suitable 

 grassy dambos on the hills. 



Habits. 



Drink often, almost always once during the day as well as at night. 



They generally prefer to drink at night from a river or stream, and will be found 

 to drink at mud holes during the day time. 



A wounded animal will drink frequently, and will generally go off to a place 

 where there is mud to roll in. They do not travel far during the day, unless 

 trekking from one place to another, and they lie down frequently. For this 

 reason, if spoor of the same day (i.e., dung without maggots) is found at any 

 reasonable time, say before i p.m., it should be worth while following. 



When stampeding, they open out and continue on a broad front for some 

 time, each animal taking his own course. At other times, when not actually grazing, 

 they move on a narrow front. 



In tracking, one should stop repeatedly to listen for their bellowing. 



When they have once winded the hunter they will stampede down wind, 

 generally maintaining that direction, and usually the only way of coming up with 

 them then is to make a wide half circle, and if the spoor is not crossed on 

 arrival opposite (or a little beyond, to allow for slight change of their direction) 

 the point the spoor is left at, the hunter must cut back up wind in the hope of 

 finding them. 



The lie of the country, open spaces, cover, and the likelihood of their 

 having drawn up soon will have to be considered in deciding whether to go directly 

 back up wind or at what angle. 



