XV 



BUFFALOES AND CROCODILES 



IN the fall of 1899 I encamped by the Pangani River, 

 about midway between its source and its mouth. 

 My European taxidermist and I were busy preparing 

 and packing hides and skins, and I did not leave the 

 camp for a fortnight. I had, however, sent out some 

 of my men to locate, if possible, the haunt of a buffalo 

 herd which was supposed to have its feeding -grounds 

 near the river. They did not find the herd, but dis- 

 covered two natives, Waseguha fishermen, who lived 

 in a small hut in the woods near the river. One of 

 them was brought to the camp. He was very indis- 

 posed to give us any information, but I learned, at last, 

 that a big herd of buffaloes was hiding in the inac-- 

 cessible swamps of the Pangani River. I broke up 

 camp at once and moved down-stream near the Lafitte 

 Mountains. On the march, which lasted six hours, I 

 shot two horned owls (Bubo lacteiis). I also noticed a 

 large herd of from one hundred and fifty to two hun- 

 dred water-bucks. I re-encamped opposite a large isl- 

 and, the lower end of which touched the inaccessible 



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