A HERD OF BUFFALOES. 59 



that he should wish me, if opportanity presented itself, 

 to shoot some large game on which these men might 

 feed. 



We were marching quietly along, and were nearly 

 opposite the center of the reeds, when, on emerging 

 from a grove of thorny mokala-trees, casting our eyes 

 to the right, we suddenly beheld a numerous herd of 

 buffaloes grazing on the open plain between us and the 

 vley. Their dark imposing squadrons extended over a 

 great space of ground, and we reckoned that there might 

 have been between six and eight hundred of them. I 

 immediately saddled " Sunday," and rode toward them. 

 As I drew near, they stood gazing at me for a minute, 

 and then, panic-stricken, the whole herd started ofi" to- 

 gether, making for the nearest wood. Pressing my 

 horse, I was soon ahead of them, and by shouting I 

 turned them right about, when they thundered along 

 in a compressed mass, and held for the reeds. Their 

 amazing numbers greatly impeded their progress, and 

 I had no difficulty in keeping alongside of them. I 

 kept on their right flank to enable me more convenient- 

 ly to fire, and on one occasion, on my riding very near 

 the foremost of the herd, a large division of those be- 

 hind me suddenly extended to the right and increased 

 their pace, and, on looking over my shoulder, I found 

 myself almost surrounded by their helmeted squadrons. 

 As I galloped along I endeavored to select the finest 

 head, but among so many it was no easy matter to 

 make a choice, and as soon as I selected one he disap- 

 peared among the ranks of his companions. At length, 

 riding at the gallop, I let fly right and left into tho 

 herd, and next moment they had gained the margin 

 of the lofty reeds. Here the whole herd suddenly 

 halted and faced about with the regularity and preci- 



