THE LAST FRONTIER 



fairly emaciated, a very unusual thing with buffaloes. 

 We then followed the herd for twenty minutes, or 

 until twilight, when we turned back. About half- 

 way down the slope we again met the three cows, 

 returning. They passed us within twenty yards, 

 but paid us no attention whatever. The old cow 

 was coming along very reluctantly, hanging back at 

 every step, and every once in a while swinging her 

 head viciously at one or the other of her two com- 

 panions. These escorted her on either side, and a 

 little to the rear. They were plainly urging her 

 forward, and did not hesitate to dig her in the ribs 

 with their horns whenever she turned especially ob- 

 stinate. In fact they acted exactly like a pair of cow- 

 boys herding a recalcitrant animal back to its band : 

 and I have no doubt at all that when they first dashed 

 by us the old lady was making a break for liberty in 

 the wrong direction, and that the two younger cows 

 were trying to round her back! Whether they were 

 her daughters or not is problematical; but it cer- 

 tainly seemed that they were taking care of her and 

 trying to prevent her running back where it was 

 dangerous to go. I never heard of a similar case, 

 though Herbert Ward* mentions, without particulars 

 that elephants and buffaloes will assist each other 

 when wounded. 



*A Voice from the Congo. 



346 



