THE CAPE BUFFALO. 6oi 



the base, and form a kind of bony helmet which is impenetrable by an 

 ordinary musket-ball. Captain Drayson gives the following description 

 of the animal : 



"The hide of this animal is a bluish-black in color, and is so very 

 tough that bullets will scarcely penetrate it if they are fired from a dis- 

 tance, or are not hardened by an addition of tin in the proportion of one 

 to eight. It is of a fierce, vindictive disposition, and from its cunning 

 habits is esteemed one of the most dangerous animals in Southern Africa. 

 The Cape Buffalo is naturally a gregarious animal, but at certain seasons 

 of the year the males fight for the mastery ; a clique of young bulls fre- 

 quently turn out an old gentleman, who then seeks the most gloomy 

 and retired localities in which to brood over his disappointments. 

 These solitary skulkers are the most dangerous of their species; and 

 although it is the nature of all animals to fly from man, unless they are 

 badly wounded, or are intruded upon at unseasonable hours, these old 

 hermits will scarcely wait for such excuses, but will willingly meet the 

 hunter half-way and try conclusions with him. 



" Although frequently found in large herds on the plains, the buffalo 

 is principally a resident in the bush ; here he follows the paths of the ele- 

 phant or rhinoceros, or makes a road for himself. During the evening, 

 night, and early morning, he roams about the open country and gorges ; 

 but when the sun has risen high, or if he has cause for alarm, the glens 

 and coverts are sought, and amidst their shady branches he enjoys 

 repose and obtains concealment. The ' spoor ' of the buffalo is like that 

 of the common ox, the toes of the old bulls being very wide apart, Avhile 

 those of the young ones are close together ; the cow buffalo's footprints 

 are longer and thinner than the bull's, and smaller. As these animals 

 wander in the open ground during the night, and retreat to their 

 glens during the day, their spoor may be taken up from the outside 

 of the bush, and followed until the scent leads to the view. When 

 the hunter comes near to his game, of which he should be able to 

 judge by the freshness of the footprints, he should wait and listen for 

 some noise by which to discover their position. Buffaloes frequently 

 twist and turn about in the bush, and do so more especially just before 

 they rest for the day. 



" I knew a Kaffir who carried about him the marks of a buffalo's power 

 and cunning. He was hunting buffaloes one day in the bush, and came 

 upon a solitarv bull, which he Avounded ; the bull bounded off, but the 

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