GREAT HERDS OF BUFFALO. 73 



which it appears, that he killed altogether 548 head 

 of large game (including the smaller antelopes and deer) 

 during those four years. The number of elephants 

 killed was 20, rhinoceri 12, giraffes 18, buffalo (Bos 

 Kaffir] 100, lions 13. * 



In another list of game killed from June 5 to De- 

 cember 5, 1874, the bag foots up to 93 head of large 

 game, inclusive of 24 elephants, 9 rhinoceri, 19 buffalo 

 and other animals ; f this six months seems to have 

 been a very successful period. Mr. Selous appears to 

 have shot a great deal of his game on foot, which 

 makes the record of work done, considering the means 

 at his disposal, the more remarkable. With two common 

 No. 4 smooth bore duck guns, purchased for 6 a 

 piece, and a third at a trifle more, loaded with a 

 handful of common Kaffir trade powder, he states 

 that he killed 78 elephants in three seasons, all but 

 one of which was shot on foot. 



Mr. Selous gives the following description of a 

 great herd of buffaloes (Bos Kaffir) seen near the 

 Chobe River in 1874: 



"Just as I was about to commence supper, one of the 

 Kaffirs reported that a large herd of buffaloes were coming 

 down from the valley to the drinking place, on which I got 

 up and went to the edge of the bush to have a look at 

 them. The whole of the open ground was literally covered 

 with their massive dusky forms, which in the dim twilight 

 appeared twice their natural size. Though it is difficult to 

 speak with any degree of accuracy as to numbers I think 



* A Hunter's Wanderings in Africa, a Narrative of Nine Years 

 among the Game of the Far Interior, by Fredk. C. Selous, 1881, 

 Appendix, pp. 447, 448. 



Ibid., p. 448. 



} Ibid., p. 10. 



