THE BUFFALO. 343 



Travellers attacked by a buffalo. 



savage ferocity to gratify afresh his savage pro- 

 pensity. 



Professor Thunberg informs us, that as he and 

 his companions had just entered a wood in Caf- 

 fraria, they discovered a large m*de buffalo, lying 

 quite alone, in a spot that, for the space of a few 

 square yards, was free from bushes. The animal 

 no sooner observed the guide, who went first, 

 than, \vith a horrible roar, he rushed upon him. 

 The fellow turned his horse short round behind a 

 targe tree, and the buffalo rushed forwards to the 

 next man, and gored his horse so dreadfully in 

 the belly that it died soon after. These two 

 climbed into trees, and the furious animal made 

 his way towards the rest, of whom the Professor 

 was one, who were approaching, but at some dis- 

 tance. A horse without a rider was in the front ; 

 as soon as the buffalo saw him he became more 

 outrageous than before, and attacked him with 

 such fury that he not only drove his horns into 

 the horse's breast, but even out again through 

 the very saddle. This horse was thrown to the 

 ground with such excessive violence that he ex- 

 pired immediately, and many of his bones were 

 broken. Just at fchis moment the Professor hap- 

 pened to come up, but from the narrowness of 

 the path, having no room to turn round, he was 

 glad to take refuge in a tolerably high tree. 

 This precaution, however, proved unnecessary; 

 for after the destruction of the second horse the 



