LARGE HERD OF BUFFALOES. 77 



trees being finer tlian any I have yet seen, and not 

 wearing tliat stunted appearance borne by those found 

 where the country is yearly swept by jungle fires. I 

 had been out little more than an hour when I saw the 

 largest herd of buffalo it has ever been my chance to 

 meet, quietly making their way towards the river. 

 There must have been at least two hundred of them, 

 large and small, and I could distinguish many calves 

 among the herd. 



Taking the gumtickler, as I always did for the first 

 shot, I stalked carefully round to head them, as the 

 wind would have proved unfavourable had I attempt- 

 ed to approach them from any other quarter. It was a 

 beautiful evening, though very hot, and the sun was 

 yet an hour and a half above the horizon. 



Having taken up my position behind a thick shrub 

 directly in front of the advancing column, I quietly 

 awaited their approach. They were now about 

 seventy yards off, and moving but slowly along ; and 

 as I peered through my cover, I could see one or 

 two very fine bulls among them, though doubtless 

 there were many more attached to the herd, but the 

 advanced guard was entirely composed of cows and 

 calves. On they came, closer and closer every mi- 

 nute. Moloka knelt steady as a rock by my side, 

 with the Rigby 10 breechloader in his hand, I having 

 plenty of ammunition for this weapon in the pouch 

 on my belt. I whispered to Moloka, " I wish I had 

 brought another gun." He replied instantly, not moving 

 his eyes from the animals, now within forty yards of 

 us — " Never mind — look plenty — see good bull — no 

 want shoot piccaninnee " (little one), meaning I was 



