270 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



afternoon. The waters of the lake, which ia 20 miles in circum- 

 ference, were burnished by the setting sun. The surrounding 

 plains were as green as an English meadow, and beautiful forest 

 trees bordered the extreme boundaries of the plains like giant 

 warders of the adjoining jungle. Long promontories, densely 

 wooded, stretched far into the waters of the lake, forming sheltered 

 nooks and bays teeming with wild-fowl. The deer browsed in herds 

 on the wide extent of plain, or lay beneath the shade of the spreading 

 branches. Every feature of lovely scenery was here presented. 

 In some spots groves of trees grew to the very water's edge ; in 

 others the wide plains, free from a single stem or bush, stretched 

 for miles along the edge of the lake ; thickly wooded hills bordered 

 the extreme end of its waters, and distant blue mountains mingled 

 their dim summits with the clouds. . . . The grass was most 

 verdant, about the height of a field fit for the scythe in England, 

 but not so thick. From this the snipe rose at every 20 or 30 

 paces, although the ground was perfectly dry. Crossing a large 

 meadow, and skirting the banks of the lake, from which the 

 ducks and teal rose in large flocks, we entered a long neck of 

 jungle which stretched far into the lake. This was not more 

 than 200 paces in width, and we soon emerged upon an extensive 

 plain bordered by fine forests, the waters of the lake stretching 

 far away upon our left, like a sheet of gold. A few large rocks 

 rose above the surface near the shore ; these were covered with 

 various kinds of wild-fowl. The principal tenants of the plain 

 were wild buffaloes. 



" A herd of about a hundred were lying in a swampy hollow 

 about a quarter of a mile from us. Several single bulls were 

 dotted about the green surface of the level plain, and on the 

 opposite shores of the lake were many dark patches umlistinguish- 

 able in the distance ; these were in reality herds of buffaloes. 

 There was not a sound in the wide expanse before us, except 

 the harsh cry of the water-fowl that our presence had already 

 disturbed. . . . Not a breath of air moved the leaves which 

 shadowed us, and the whole scene was that of undisturbed 

 nature. The sun had now sunk low upon the horizon, and the 

 air was comparatively cool The multitude of buffaloes en- 

 chanted us, and with our two light double-barrels we advanced 

 to the attack of the herd before us. " 



I have extracted this passage as a picture of the hunter's 

 paradise, which I so well remember, but which now exists as a 

 scene still lovely, but almost devoid of game. 



In those days the buffaloes were quite unsophisticated, as 



