ENORMOUS HERDS OF BUFFALOES. 267 



we proceeded for several days ; but, finding that there 

 was scarcely any water in it, and that it would be im- 

 possible to reach Sichely's country by this route, I de- 

 termined to retrace my steps. We accordingly marched 

 for the Limpopo, which I fell in with once more on the 

 23d, having killed a noble old lion in my way. 



We trekked up along the banks of the river for the 

 Mariqua, and a little before sundown fell in with two 

 enormous herds of buffaloes, one of which, consisting 

 chiefly of bulls, stood under the shady trees on one side 

 of the bank, while the other, composed chiefly of cows 

 and calves, stood on the opposite side, a little higher up 

 the river. In all there were at least three hundred. 

 Thinking it probable that if I hunted them I might kill 

 some old bull with a head perhaps worthy of my collec- 

 tion, I ordered my men to outspan, and, having saddled 

 steeds, gave chase to the herd of bulls, accompanied by 

 Booi and my dogs. After a short burst they took 

 through the river, whereby I lost sight of an old bull 

 which carried the finest head in the herd. My dogs, 

 however, brought a cow to bay as they crossed the 

 river, which I shot standing in the water, but not before 

 siie had killed a particularly favorite bull-dog named 

 Pompey. I then continued the chase, and again came 

 up with the herd, which was now considerably scat- 

 tered ; and after a sharp chase, part of which was 

 through thick wait-a-bit thorn cover, I brought eight 

 or nine fine bulls to bay in lofty reeds at the river's 

 margin, exactly opposite to my camp: of these I singled 

 out the two best heads, one of which I shot with five 

 balls, and wounded the other badly, but he made off 

 while" I was engaged with his comrade. 



In the morning I instructed four of my people to 

 cross the river and bring over a supply of bufialo beef 



