IMMENSE HORNS OF THE BUFFALO. 213 



On going up to them, I was astonished to behold their 

 size and powerful appearance. Their horns reminded 

 me of the rugged trunk of an oak-tree. Each horn 

 was upward of a foot in breadth, at the base, and to- 

 gether they effectually protected the skull with a mass- 

 ive and impenetrable shield. The horns, descending, 

 and spreading out horizontally, completely overshad- 

 owed the animal's eyes, imparting to him a look the 

 most ferocious and sinister that can be imagined. On 

 my way to the wagons I shot a stag sassayby, and while 

 I was engaged in removing his head a troop of about 

 thirty doe pallahs cantered past me, followed by one 

 princely old buck. Snatching up my rifle, I made a 

 fine shot, and rolled him over in the grass. 



Early in the afternoon I dispatched men with a pack- 

 horse to bring the finer of the two buffalo-heads. It 

 was so ponderous that two powerful men could with dif- 

 ficulty raise it from the ground. The Bechuanas who 

 had accompanied me, on hearing of my success, snatch- 

 ed up their shields and assagais, and hastened to secure 

 the flesh, nor did I see any more of them, with the ex- 

 ception of the two Baqnaines, who remained with me, 

 being engaged in a plot with my interpreter to prevent 

 my penetrating to Bamangwato. Isaac did not soon 

 forget his adventure with the buffaloes ; and at night, 

 over the fire, he informed my men that I was mad, and 

 that any man who followed me was going headlong to 

 his own destruction. At an early hour on the 5th 1 

 continued my march through a glorious country of hill 

 and dale, throughout which water was abundant. 



Beautifully wooded hills and mountains stretched 

 away on every side ; some of the mountains were par- 

 ticularly grand and majestic, their summits being sur- 

 rounded by steep precipices and abrupt parapets of 



