UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 293 



tion. We pitched upon one of the largest of 

 these places, and crept softly, but at a little dis- 

 tance from each other, into the bushes and 

 thorns with which it was surrounded. This 

 pool seemed to be about five or six hundred 

 yards in circumference, and we all agreed not to 

 fire at an elephant, or at any of the large fierce 

 beasts, but to wait patiently the arrival of the 

 smaller animals. 



" We had not been long concealed in our 

 thorny hiding place, when two tigers approached 

 at the opposite side, and we observed that they 

 drank one after the other, though there was 

 sufficient space for both. Another half hour 

 elapsed before any thing more made its appear- 

 ance, but the noise increased on all sides> and 

 made us rather uneasy. At last we heard the 

 deep low of approaching buffaloes, and three 

 soon made their appearance. After having 

 drank for a long time, they waded into the deep 

 part and lay down, so that nothing could be seen 

 but their noses ; and no one, who had not seen 

 them go in, could have suspected that such huge 

 animals were concealed there. In a short time 

 a fourth buffalo arrived, and after snuffing round 

 him for some moments, he began to drink. 

 Though the others put their heads out of the 

 water, they did not [interfere with him while 

 drinking, but when he appeared inclined to ad- 

 vance farther into the water, one of them in- 



2 c 3 



