A Thousand Miles in a Machilla 



out again, and after crossing the marsh soon sighted 

 the herd. The wind, which was unfavourable, 

 necessitated a long detour, so that by the time he 

 got within shot it was getting dusk. He secured 

 three of these handsome animals, a species of 

 bastard hartebeest, with lovely, sheeny brown 

 skins. Unfortunately two of them proved to be 

 cows; but as both carry horns, it is difficult to 

 distinguish cows from bulls in the distance. 



The first sassaby, on being hit, ran forward a 

 couple of hundred yards before falling; the next 

 two fell to the shots. A , knowing the where- 

 abouts of the first beast, walked to the other two 

 and set the men to work cutting them up. By the 

 time this was completed it was quite dark, so that 

 when the party proceeded to look for the first 

 sassaby they were unable to distinguish the beast 

 from the ant-hills with which the plain was studded 

 — each of which looked like a dead animal in the 

 dark — and in the end had to leave him on the 

 ground. After a tiresome journey through the 

 marsh, the party returned to camp much pleased 

 with themselves. 



The heads were skinned by firelight, and the 

 circle of dark figures and grotesque faces standing 

 round watching the proceedings and waiting patiently 

 to receive their portions of meat looked weird and 

 picturesque in the fitful light of the burning logs. 

 Feasting prevailed up to a late hour. 



As sport seemed probable in the neighbourhood, 

 we decided to halt next day, so as to give time to 

 Maso and the Angonies to rejoin us. In the early 



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