74 EXPEDITION INTO 



husband our resources^ as f;ir as possible^ ag'aiust our re- 

 turn. The plains here are broken by low rang-es of stony 

 hills, with clumps of acacia. A larg-e herd of buffaloes on 

 being' pursued took to the lakes_, into which we followed 

 them, the Avater reaching* up to the horses' g'irths, and the 

 reeds far above our own heads. We could hear the animals 

 forcing' their way throug-h immediately in front of us ; but 

 after several hours' severe labour could only succeed in 

 driving" out one, which breaking* at the opposite side of one 

 lake had g'ained another before we could overtake him. 

 A g"eneral skirmish then commenced j some of the followers 

 wading' up to their middles, whilst others fired from the 

 banks whenever a g-limpse of the buffaloes could be ob- 

 tained. Several were wounded ; and Piet, in attempting' 

 to despatch one, was charg-ed and knocked over by another. 

 Capless and disarmed, we could see him throug*h a tele- 

 scope, lying' beneath a karree-tree, which reared its venerable 

 head in the middle of the lake, holding* his hands to his 

 stomach as if mortally wounded ; his adversary drooping' 

 near him, the blood streaming* from its nostrils, and the 

 moment of dissolution approaching*. A broad deep stream, 

 tang-led over with sedg*e encircling* this spot on three sides, 

 defied approach either on horseback or on foot, without 

 incurring' the certainty of drowning*, and compelled us to 

 ride three miles round before we could come to the rescue. 

 By that time the buffiilo was dead, and Piet appearing* more 

 frig-htened than hurt, we removed his leathern doublet, which 

 was much torn, and ascertained that there were no holes 

 in his skin. A laborious search among* the reeds brousfht 

 his cap and g*un to light, and the wounded man being* borne 

 out by the savages, was placed upon a horse and conducted 

 to Mosega, where he enjoyed the advantage of Dr. Wilson's 

 professional aid. 



On our return, Mr. Lindley, one of the Missionaries, 



