Towards the Katonga River 



easterly direction towards the big Katonga River. 

 This led to my first field day with the gallant buffalo, 

 and as big a fright as I have ever experienced. 



I started early, about 5.30 o'clock, without my i^ 

 breakfast, and as I headed off in the direction of the 

 rising sun, I had every opportunity of watching this 

 glorious sight. There was a low-lying bank of strata 

 clouds on the horizon, and the first sign was a 

 rosy pink streak running along the topmost edge; 

 then the streak became more intense and of a 

 golden hue ; finally, the fleecy clouds around 

 assumed a rosy blue, and specks of gold burst through 

 the opaque bank in a score of places, until finally 

 his majesty arose in all his glory. What can be 

 more beautiful and more fleeting than a sunrise or a 

 sunset ? I can well understand a Rousseau or a 

 Turner desiring that his last hours should culminate 

 in the rapture of a scene of such celestial beauty. 



I had been walking some two hours when 

 my native hunters came across fresh tracks of 

 buffalo. I immediately sent them on, and ordered 

 my "safari" for breakfast. So far, so good; but my ' ^■ 

 "safari" was lost. I waited an hour and sent 

 another man ; no result. At last, as it was 

 II o'clock, I was feeling rather faint for food; 3^ 

 and, a hunter having rushed in to announce that 

 buffalo had been seen quite close by, out of sheer 

 desperation I took my orderly and went in search 

 of the lost party. It proved a most useless action 

 on my part, and after a weary search I gave 

 it up. I then sent my orderly back to camp, and 



145 10 



