HUNTING IN AFRICA 133 
of all, is the buffalo head. And here, at least as much as 
with the lion, the local native can help. One of the chief 
difficulties about the buffalo is, that some slight cause 
may make him change his quarters. He is here in large 
numbers one month, the next he is gone and trace him 
you cannot. His chosen haunt is often inaccessible to you, 
even if you are willing to take the risk of following him into 
the dark labyrinth of swamp and jungle through which 
he tunnels or crashes, or, wonderful to relate, moves if 
he wishes it, almost noiselessly. You cannot do so. No 
living man, not the naked savage himself, can force a pas- 
sage without making a noise, sufficient to give warning 
of his approach. Nor can the breeze be depended on in 
these thickets. No, the only real chance you have, comes, 
when he leaves his fastness, to feed in the glade or on the 
marsh, close by. Now, unlike the elephant, which loves 
rain, and can never have enough of it, the buffalo dislikes 
it. Consequently information you collect with care, about 
where you should go, etc., and when, etc., is by a change 
of season rendered useless and misleading. You march 
the sefari ten days to some locality where your friend got a 
good head, where he left plenty of buffalo, and which you 
have good reason for believing has not been disturbed since 
he left it. Your hopes are high. Alas! nothing comes 
of all your trouble; when you reach the land of desire and 
hunt it thoroughly, you are not rewarded by so much as 
a fresh sign. Never then be so sure of getting buffalo 
anywhere, that you do not make arrangements to have 
one or two dependable natives gathering information for 
you, going out themselves to look for sign, in some other 
locality, on which you can fall back, in case of failure. 
At most of the government stations there are such na- 
tives, kept in government employ. ‘The district commis- 
sioner will always oblige you with their services. They 
cost little and may prove of great value to you. Before 
