364 LARGE GAME. CHAP. vm. 



patriarchal old bull came up from where he had been 

 feeding some hundred yards away, and roused in succes- 

 sion every one that was lying down. Something about 

 the place did not please him, and he was going to drive 

 them all from it. Could it have been that instinctive 

 knowledge of something wrong which we call presenti- 

 ment, and which the natives often affirm that this 

 animal shows, even going to the length of calling it the 

 "Umgoma," or wizard; or was he merely thirsty, and 

 wanting to take the herd to water ? He was very 

 peremptory about it anyhow, and if any of them did not 

 go in the right direction, did not hesitate to use his horns, 

 which seemed so large that I coveted them for a friend 

 who had asked me to get him a pair. The herd was 

 already up, and those which had been lying down were 

 stretching themselves preparatory to moving, so that I 

 had to make up my mind whether to fire at him, or at a 

 cow for the sake of her meat ; but as they are not very 

 good eating, the fat being hard and nasty, and the flesh 

 dry, I chose the former, and put a bullet through his 

 shoulders. He managed to keep with the herd for a 

 little while, but ultimately left it, and after a good deal 

 more stalking, and three more shots, I finished hi. 



I think I said that it was the only time when I had 

 been so near them. I was mistaken. I was once, though 

 accidentally, nearer. It was during the most terrific 

 thunderstorm that I ever witnessed, and I have seen a 

 good many. Although it was mid-day it had grown so 

 dark that I could not see ten yards in front of me, and I 

 was walking through a sea of water, with trees for islands, 

 which not an hour previously had been dry land, parched 



