OKDER VIII. THE KU.MIXANTIA. 311 



the old and dry stubble. We learn from Dr. Eiebardson's interesting 

 account, that in winter they scrape away the snow with their feet, to reach 

 tlie grass. The bulls and cows live in se[>aratc herds for the greater part of 

 tiie \'ear ; but at all seasons one or two old bulls generally accompany a herd 

 of cows. Tiiey arc usually extremely shy and watchful, scenting an enemy 

 at a great distance, and immediately taking Hight. But wiien assembled in 

 large herds, they seem to derive courage, and are less warv. They will 

 blindly follow their leaders, and certain destruction awaits the himtcrs who 

 may be in their way when the frightened and maddened animals rush like a 

 storm across the prairie, which trembles and resounds with the tiuuidcr of 

 tiieir tread. It is dangerous for a hunter, on foot, to attack a singk^ in- 

 dividual, as if he only wounds tiie animal, it will pursue, and be sure to 

 overtake, and seriously wound, if not con)[ilctely destroy liiin. 



The Indians hunt them on iiorsos, wiiich is a safer recreation, and attended 

 with surer results. They are also taken by being dri\cn into an enclosed, 

 circular space, of about a hundred yards in diameter, called a pound. 



Bos CdJ'cr. — The African Buttalo. Tiiis species is found nowiicre but 

 in the tropical parts of .Soutiiern Africa, and is very distinct from every 

 other variety of tiie ox tribe. It is a very ferocious and dangerous animal, 

 its countenance expressing a most savage and malevolefit expression. Its 

 horns, tliougli not larger or longer tiian ordinary, are so Ijroad at their Ijase 

 as to cover the whole foreiiead, and give to it the appearance of a mass of 

 rock. It is much larger than the ox, and more compact, and strongly 

 made. It is a dangerous animal to attack, but is often killed in pitfalls. 

 Mr. Pringle relates an interesting accoimt of a buffalo hunt, so graphically 

 describing the beast and its ferocity, tiiat we cannot refrain troin sub- 

 joining it. 



"A party of boors had gone out to hunt a herd of buffaloes, which were 

 grazing in a piece of marshy ground, interspersed witii groves of yellow 

 wood and mimosa trees. As tiiey could not conveniently get within shot of 

 the game without crossing a part of tlic marsh, which did not afford a safe 

 passage for horses, tiiey agreed to leave tiieir steeds in charge of tlieir 

 Hottentots, and to advance on foot, thinking that if any of the buffaloes 

 should turn upon them, it would be easy to escape by retreating across the 

 quagmire, wliicii, tliough passable for man, would not support the weiglit of 

 a heavy quadruped. Tliey advanced accordingly, and, under covert of t!ic 

 bushes, approached the game with sucli advantage, tiiat the first volley 

 brought down tliree of the fattest of the herd, and so severely wounded the 

 next bull-leader, that he dropped on his knees, bellowing furiously. Think- 

 ing him mortally wounded, tiie foremost of the lumtsmcn issued from tlie 

 covert, and began reloading his musket as he advanced, to give him a 



