HUNTING THE BUFFALO. 45 



occasioned the buffalo to take himself down again h-t-. the vale, 

 dyeing the ground and bushes all the way he went With hia 

 blood. 



" Though still hot upon the chase, yet we advanced with the 

 greatest caution, accompanied by two of our Hottentots, through 

 the thin and more pervious part of the wood, where the buffalo 

 had taken refuge. He was advancing again to attack some of us, 

 when Mr. Immelman, from the place where he was posted, shot 

 him in the lungs. Notwithstanding this, he had still strength 

 enough left to make a circuit of one hundred and fifty paces, 

 before we heard him fall; during his fall, and before he died, he 

 bellowed in a most stupendous manner. And this death-song of 

 his, inspired every one of us with joy, on account of the victory 

 we had gained ; and so thoroughly steeled is frequently the 

 human heart against the sufferings of the brute creation, that-we 

 hastened forwards, to enjoy the pleasure of seeing the buffalc 

 struggle with the pangs of death. 1 happened to be the foremost 

 amongst them ; but think it impossible for anguish, accompanied 

 by a savage fierceness, to be painted in stronger colors than they 

 Were in the countenance of this buffalo. I was within ten steps 

 of him when he perceived me, and bellowing raised himself 

 suddenly again on his legs. I had reason to believe since, that I 

 was at the time very much frightened; for before I could well 

 take my aim, I fired off" my gun, and the shot missed the whole 

 of his huge body, and only hit him in the hind legs, as we after- 

 wards discovered by the size of the balls. Immediately upon 

 this I flew away like lightning, in order to look out for some tree to 

 climb up into. Notwithstanding the tedious prolixity it might 

 occasion me to be guilty of, I thought the best and readiest method 

 of giving my reader an idea of the nature of this animal, and of 

 the method of hunting it, as well as of oth^r contingent circurr- 

 stances, would be to adduce an instance or two, of what occuired 

 during the chase." 



