234 STi^LKING BUFFALOES. 



singing, I was informed that the words of his hymn 

 were, '* I want meat ! I want meat ! &c.," and that 

 this was called ''making prayers !" I returned to the 

 tree, seeing that he was determined not to be disturb- 

 ed at his devotions even by my presence ; but shortly 

 after he joined me, bringing a man with him. He said 

 I would be sure to kill either elephant or buffaloes, as 

 he had made all that square ! 



In a few minutes we were off. Having crossed the 

 river-bed beside which the village stood, we entered 

 a thick forest. The country soon became hilly, and I 

 observed that we were going in the direction of the 

 Shire. As we went along we saw a good deal of fresh 

 elephant spoor, and while walking through a large 

 tract of long grass started a solitary buffalo, but did 

 not succeed in getting a shot at him. I perceived num- 

 bers of waterbuck, and a few hartebeest, but refrained 

 from shooting them, as my guide said we should cer- 

 tainly see either elephants or buffalo. 



We had walked a long way, and had just begun to 

 think of returning, when I observed a buffalo a good 

 way ahead, parts of his body being alone visible 

 through the trees. Having looked to the guns, I ap- 

 proached the animal, accompanied byMoloka and Chip- 

 pootoola, and soon discovered that there was a large 

 herd. They had evidently only just risen from their 

 midday slumbers and commenced feeding. There was 

 sufficient underwood here to enable me to make a 

 Yairish stalk, but when within some eighty yards 

 of them they got my wind and bolted away. 

 Seeing this I at once started after them, leaving 

 the Makololos far behind. I had the gumtickler, 



