THE REDISCOVERED COUNTRY 65 



About three went scouting for buffalo. Cuninghame 

 took one side of the island and I the other. After about 

 a mile I jumped a bull in the edge of the papyrus and 

 gave him both barrels at twenty yards. He fell with 

 a mighty splash. Hunted up Cuninghame and we 

 waded after him. Very weird, in water nearly to our 

 waists, surrounded by papyrus that completely shut in 

 everything but the sky immediately overhead, water- 

 birds all about, indignant hippos booming to right and 

 left, very much on the alert. Followed very bloody spoor 

 for twenty yards, and found the buffalo had toppled 

 into the swift current of the main river and been swept 

 away. Great disappointment, as he was very dead. 



In evening mosquitoes out by millions. The air was 

 full of them. We could hardly eat. Some of the boys 

 built platforms in the leafless trees and slept aloft. 

 Others dug holes. 



Four hours; 6 J miles; elevation, 1,900; morning, 68; 

 noon, 95; night, 83. 



July 29. — Up and out before daybreak. Saw three 

 buffs on edge of swamp across the river, and slopped 

 after them. We got close but could not see them on 

 account of high reeds. This would be a good place to 

 hunt buffalo in drier season, but now that the river is in 

 flood it is hopeless. It was interesting to see the water- 

 fowl, however, and our rosy cloud of flamingoes was 

 again in the sky. Heard many lions. 



Decided this was no good, so packed up for return. 



