808 CHARGE OF A BUFFALO. 



which was laid, by its own weight, I observed that a soli- 

 tary buffalo, disturbed by others of my own party, was 

 coming to me at a gallop. I glanced around, but the only 

 tree on the plain was a hundred yards off, and there was 

 no escape elsewhere. I therefore cocked my rifle, with 

 the intention of giving him a steady shot in the forehead 

 when he should come within three or four yards of me. The 

 thought flashed across my mind, " What if your gun misses 

 fire?" I placed it to my shoulder as he came on at full 

 speed, and that is tremendous, though generally he is a 

 lumbering-looking animal in his paces. A small bush and 

 bunch of grass fifteen yards off made him swerve a little, 

 and exposed his shoulder. I just heard the ball crack 

 there as I fell flat on my face. The pain must have made 

 him renounce his purpose, for he bounded close past me on 

 to the water, where he was found dead. In expressing my 

 thankfulness to God among my men, they were much 

 offended with themselves for not being present to shield 

 me from this danger. The tree near me was a camel-thorn, 

 and reminded me that we had come back to the land of 

 thorns again, for the country we had left is one of ever- 

 greens. 



July 27. — We reached the town of Libonta, and were 

 received with demonstrations of joy such as I had never 

 witnessed before. The women came forth to meet us, 

 making their curious dancing gestures and loud lulliloos. 

 Some carried a mat and stick, in imitation of a spear and 

 shield. Others rushed forward and kissed the hands and 

 cheeks of the different persons of their acquaintance among 

 us, raising such a dust that it was quite a relief to get to 

 the men assembled and sitting wdth proper African decorum 

 in the kotla. We were looked upon as men risen from the 

 dead, for the most skilful of their diviners had pronounced 

 us to have perished long ago. After many expressions of 

 joy at meeting, I arose, and, thanking them, explained the 

 causes of our long delay, but left the report to he made by 

 their own countrymen Formerly I had been the chief 



