AN EXPLORATIOX IN THE FAR EAST. 411 



grass, bounded by low hills and sal forests on the far 

 horizon. Here our poor fever-stricken people paraded 

 themselves in rows to let the sun into their shivering 

 bones, and three times a day got a dose of quinine 

 all round, a course of treatment (preceded by a smart 

 dose of jalap) which soon frees a native from this hot- 

 weather fever. 



AVhen marching in the morning, about a couple of 

 miles from camp we- saw a herd of fifty or sixty buffaloes 

 standing up to their knees in a swamp among long grass. 

 It was B.'s turn for the shot, and we spent several hours 

 trying to get near enough to shoot. The buffaloes were 

 very wild, having been much fired at a few weeks before 

 by a sportsman with long-range small-bore rifles. As 

 we approached on one side they waded through the 

 swamp and went out on the other, reversing the process 

 when we changed the direction of approach. At last I 

 got on my horse, and took a light breech-loading gun, 

 to try and get round and drive them across to B. 

 They now got alarmed, and made off towards the head 

 of the swamp ; and on our following them on either 

 bank, left it altogether, and started at their best pace 

 across a rising ground. The ground seemed very 

 favourable for riding for that country, so I could not 

 resist the temptation to breathe my little nag at them, 

 and was soon galloping full speed in their rear. My 

 animal was an Arab pony, about thirteen three in height, 

 but game as a bantam, and wonderfully sure-footed over 

 bad ground. To my surprise and delight, I found 

 myself ahead of them in less than half a mile ; and, 

 shooting past, looked out for a worthy c^uarry among 

 the labouring^ mass. I fixed on a bull with lono; horns, 

 whose shining tips danced, in the sunlight conspicuous 

 above them all, and was just ranging alongside to fire 



