CHAPTER LXIX. 



A LION HUNT ON THE RIVER MARIQUA. 



WE trekked up along the banks of the river for the llariqua, 

 says Mr. Gumming, and a little before sundown fell in with two 

 enormous herds of buffaloes, one of which, consisted chiefly of bulls, 

 stood under the shady trees on one side of the bank, whilst the 

 other, composed chiefly of cows and calves, stood on the opposite 

 side, a little higher up the river. In all there were at least three 

 hundred. Thinking it probable that if I hunted them 1 might kill 

 some old bull with a head perhaps worthy of my collection, I ordere," 

 my men to outspan, and having saddled steeds, I gave chase to the 

 herd of bulls, accompanied by Booi and my dogs. After a short 

 burst they took through the river, where I lost sight of an old bull 

 which carried the finest head in the herd. My dogs, however, 

 brought a cow to bay as they crossed the river, which I shot stand- 

 ing in the water, but not before she had killed a particularly favo- 

 rite bull dog, named Pompey. I then continued the chase, and 

 again came up with the herd, which was now considerably scattered ; 

 and after a sharp chase, part of which was through thick wait-a-bit 

 thorn cover, I brought eight or nine fine old bulls to bay in lofty 

 reeds at the river's margin, exactly opposite to my camp; of these 

 I singled out the two best heads, one of which I shot with five balls, 

 and wounded the other badly, but he made off while I was engaged 

 with his comrade. 



In the morning I instructed four of my people to cross the river, 

 r j ' bring ove4 a supply of buffalo beef. These men were very re 



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