A Tussle with a Buffalo 



should OTQ and see if I could oret a shot at some of 

 them. So I seized a rifle and, followed by my 

 orderly, went off. I soon, however, was brought 

 to a standstill, as I had no puttees on, having 

 discarded them after my bath. I sent the orderly 

 back, and by his return the buck had disappeared. 

 I continued on for about a mile to have a view of 

 the country. It was hilly, with very short grass 

 (for Uganda), and eminently suitable for buffalo 

 shooting. These wily beasts have a way of making 

 off to a flank when being chased, and coming round 

 your rear, charge you in the back, so that if you are 

 in long grass you are apt to be taken by surprise. 

 One of my brother officers had a very near escape 

 in that very locality. The buffalo charged him, 

 and he fell flat on his stomach, but the beast was 

 determined not to let him off, and stamping all over 

 him, a fearful medley ensued, in which he got a 

 grip of the beast's hind foot. He held on bravely 

 for a brief while, during which time none of his 

 orderlies dare shoot for fear of hitting the man 

 instead of the animal. Eventually they frightened 

 the infuriated beast off with a volley in the air, and 

 he made off into the gubba, leaving him in safety, 

 and with nothing worse than a few bruises. I also 

 learned that a herd of elephant had quite recendy 

 been through. 



That night an awful thunderstorm overwhelmed 

 us. I had to turn out all my escort and porters to 

 hold my tent down; as the soil was sandy the pegs 

 did not hold, and the gusts of wind were fierce and 



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