42 SHOTS AT BUFFALOES. 



fired at the nearest behind the shoulder, and threw him 

 in his tracks. Frightened at the report, the remainder 

 of the herd fled, the old bull, sulky at being thus dis- 

 turbed during his morning rub, trotting sluggishly 

 along some yards in the rear. Having reloaded 

 (breech-loader 10, Rigby), I ran after the buffaloes, 

 and as they soon slackened their pace I was enabled 

 to gain on them considerably. At last they stopped 

 and turned round to look, packing themselves closely 

 together. I was now within about sixty yards of them, 

 and as the old bull turned round I fired at his shoul- 

 der, and he charged at once in a most determined 

 way. When he was within about twenty yards of me 

 I fired the second barrel at his head, which was 

 lowered. He rolled over, and lay struggling on the 

 ground. The herd, having seen their champion fall, 

 divided into two lots, and were out of sight in an in- 

 stant. I soon discovered that the bull was only 

 stunned, and as he appeared to be recovering his 

 senses quickly, I killed him with a shot at the back of 

 the ear, fearing he might prove an ugly customer if 

 once on his legs again. The first shot had passed 

 close below the brain. 



I then ordered up the party, and the buffaloes were 

 cut up in a very short time, and every man carried 

 what meat he could in addition to his load. This is 

 a task which these savages willingly undertake, for it 

 is wonderful how delighted they are at the thought 

 of meat to eat. A quantity of meat being left for 

 Mr. Young's party to take up, we then continued our 

 march. 



At 3.30 P.M. I crossed the Mokurumadsee river 



