BUFFALO-HUNT. , 151 



We now began to ascend the Leeba. The water is black 

 in color as compared with the main stream, which hero 

 assumes the name of Ivabompo. The Leeba flows placidly, 

 and, unlike the parent river, receives numbers of little rivu- 

 lets from both sides. It winds slowly through the most 

 charming meadows, each of which has either a soft, sedgy 

 centre, large pond, or trickling rill down the middle. 



A large buffalo was wounded, and ran into the thickest 

 part of the forest, bleeding profusely. The young men 

 went on his trail; and, though the vegetation was so dense 

 that no one could have run more than a few yards, most 

 of them went along quite carelessly, picking and eating a 

 fruit of the melon-family called mponko. When the animal 

 heard them approach, he always fled, shifting his stand 

 and doubling; on his course in the most cunning manner. 

 In other cases I have known them to turn back to a point 

 a few yards from their own trail, and then lie down in a 

 hollow waiting for the hunter to come up. Though a 

 heavy, lumbering-looking animal, his charge is then rapid 

 and terrific. More accidents happen by the buffalo and 

 the black rhinoceros than by the lion. Though all are 

 aware of the mischievous nature of the buffalo when 

 wounded, our yonng men went after him quite carelessly. 

 They never lose their presence of mind, but, as a buffalo 

 charges back in a forest, dart dexterously out of his way 

 behind a tree, and, wheeling round, stab him as he passes. 



On the 28th we slept at a spot on the right bank from 

 which had just emerged two broods of alligators. We had 

 seen many young ones as we came up; so this seems to be 

 their time of coming forth from the nests, for we saw them 

 sunning themselves on sand-banks in company with the 

 old ones. We made our fire in one of the deserted nests, 

 which were strewed all over with the broken shells. At 

 the Zouga we saw sixty eggs taken out of one such nest 

 alone. They are about the size of those of a goose, only 

 the eo-o-g of the alligator are of the same diameter at both 

 ends, and the white shell is partially elastic, from having a 



