7$ TALES OF A NOMAD. 



the precise position of their adversary. However, if they 

 get alarmed they may dash wildly about, and there is a 

 chance of their coming right upon you without their 

 even intending to do so. If you wound one and he 

 charges, there is a very poor chance of putting in a good 

 second barrel. Indeed, I would say to all sportsmen : 

 " Do not go into reeds after dangerous game, for it is 

 sheer folly ". 



After moving about in the reeds for some time, and 

 being nearly run over by a buffalo that had taken alarm 

 and had rushed past me within three yards without giving 

 me the chance of a shot, I gave it up as a bad job and 

 emerged again. 



However, Umkotyisa went in and killed four buffaloes 

 with five shots. They then broke cover, and I got one 

 of them as they went away. 



The reader will say: "This does not redound much to 

 the credit of the white man". True, but then in the 

 reeds a Caffre has a great advantage. He is naked and 

 barefooted. The last gives him no inconvenience, for he 

 is accustomed to go barefoot. His eye is quicker at 

 distinguishing the game than is the eye of any European, 

 and if charged he is more agile in evading danger. 



Where you can see your game clearly, the good 

 European hunter is superior to any native, but amongst 

 reeds the native has a distinct advantage. 



As regards the element of personal courage, I think 

 the Caffre (of a military race) equals any white man. 

 I have often thought that the natives who accompany a 

 white man to hunt deserve more credit for courage than 

 their master does. The white man is armed. He as a 

 rule can use his weapon skilfully. He is excited by the 

 pleasure of sport. The whole performance is for his 



