146 Wild Life in Central Africa. 



lies very low in a buffalo's chest, and he fell for good, and 

 began to moan and bellow. 



Most buffaloes when dying bellow several times, and it 

 is their last good-bye to life. I never hear the sound but I 

 regret killing such splendid animals, for a buffalo is a much 

 pluckier beast than most. 



It was close on midday by this time, and, as I had hit 

 the buffalo first before 6 a.m., it had been six hours of 

 intense excitement and hard tracking work. A little water 

 was left in the gourds, and there was enough to brew a 

 cup of tea and give the men a few mouthfuls. I do not 

 think I ever enjoyed a cup of tea more, or the pleasant 

 smoke that followed it, as I sat and gazed at the fine beast 

 I had had the good fortune to lay low. After that I 

 took some photographs, which turned out very well, 

 and, before covering him up with branches and grass, I 

 measured his head, which was not exceptionally broad, 

 but very deep over the frontlet, and old and gnarled. 

 It was a fine trophy, but I had to work hard for it, 

 which always makes it the more valued in the eyes of the 

 hunter. 



In the same month of the following year (1911) I had 

 another exciting day with buffaloes. This time I was 

 camped at Machinjiri, a small stream, rising in the Cholo 

 range and flowing towards the Shire through some of the 

 best game country left in that part of Africa. The rains 

 had been late, and therefore much of the grass was green, 

 and there was a lot of water in the lower parts, which 

 made tramping through the country hard work. On that 

 day, September 25, I was off early, as it is necessary to 

 make the most of the cool hours of the morning. The first 

 animal I saw was a reedbuck, and then I saw a single bull 

 waterbuck, neither of which I wished to fire at, as I hoped 

 to see buffalo. 



We had walked some five miles, when, suddenly, as we 

 were skirting a large dambo full of grass, reeds, and 

 water in its lower parts, four buffaloes ran out into the 

 open. 



