204 THROUGH GASA LAND. 



visited by a large drove of buffalo. Our experience 

 of yesterday was not thrown away, so a sharp look- 

 out was kept on all sides. The spoor of these 

 animals led for half a mile or more directly along the 

 route we were taking. At length a Mantatee di- 

 rected Sunday's attention to something on the 

 ground. My henchman, in return, called me up. 

 What attracted both their visions was a long and 

 distinct trail of blood. At first I was inclined to 

 attribute this to the work of the king of beasts, 

 but this impression was soon removed by the 

 natives, who affirmed that the injury was the result 

 of a battle royal between two bulls. That one of 

 the combatants had got his death thrust I made no 

 doubt of, and that his body was close at hand ap- 

 peared a certainty ; so I dispensed with the services 

 of two of the Mantatees, on condition that they would 

 go for aid, and take the better parts of the carcass, 

 and hie to camp, which promise they most faithfully 

 kept, I am glad to say ; in truth, these savages have 

 very much improved in cleanliness and obedience, 

 and I almost suspect that they begin to see some 

 virtue in honesty. 



Afterwards I learned that at certain seasons of 

 the year the natives procured a goodly portion of 

 their food through the encounters that occur be- 

 tween the mature bull buffaloes. In North America 

 I have several times witnessed most obstinate and 

 protracted battles between two bull moose (A/ces 



