Chai'. XI.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 89 



against our return. The plains here are broken by 

 low ranges of stony hills, with clumps of acacia. A 

 large herd of buffaloes on being pursued took to the 

 lakes, into which we followed them, the water reach- 

 ing up to the horse's girths, and the reeds far above 

 our own heads. We could hear the animals forcing 

 their way through immediately in front of us ; but 

 after several hours' severe labour could only succeed 

 in driving out one, which breaking at the opposite 

 side of one lake had gained another before we could 

 overtake him. A general skirmish then commenced ; 

 some of the followers wading up to their middles, 

 whilst others fired from the banks whenever a glimpse 

 of the buffaloes could be obtained. Several were 

 wounded ; and Piet, in attempting to despatch one, 

 was charged and knocked over by another. Capless 

 and disarmed, we could see him through a telescope, 

 lying beneath a shady karree-tree, which reared its 

 venerable head in the middle of the lake, holding 

 his hands to his stomach as if mortally wounded ; 

 his adversary drooping near him, the blood stream- 

 ing from its nostrils, and the moment of dissolution 

 approaching. A broad deep stream, tangled over 

 with sedge, encircling this spot on three sides, defied 

 approach either on horseback or on foot, without 

 incurring the certainty of drowning, and compelled 

 us to ride three miles round before we could arrive 

 to the rescue. By that time the buffalo was dead, 

 and Piet appearing more frightened than hurt, we 

 removed his leathern doublet, which was much torn, 

 and ascertained that there were no holes in his skin. 



