266 BUFFALO-HUNT. Chap. XV. 



stages on which the Balonda dry their meat, when they come 

 down to hunt and gather the produce of the wild hives. In one 

 part we came upon groups of lofty trees as straight as masts, 

 with festoons of orchilla-weed hanging from the branches. This, 

 which is used as a dye-stuff, is found nowhere in the dry country 

 to the south. It prefers the humid climate near the west coast. 



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 lus stand and doubling on his course in the most 

 cunning manner. In other cases I have known them 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 young 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 it, stab him as he 

 passes. 



A tree in flower brought the pleasant fragrance of hawthorn- 

 hedges back to memory ; its leaves, flowers, perfume, and fruit, 

 resembled those of the hawthorn, only the flowers were as large 

 as dog-roses, and the " haws " like boys' marbles. Here the 

 flowers smell sweetly, while few in the south emit any scent at 

 all, or only a nauseous odour. A botanist would find a rich 

 harvest on the banks of the Leeba. This would be his best 

 season, for the flowers all run rapidly to seed, and then insects 

 of every shape spring into existence to devour them. The 

 climbing plants display great vigour of growth, being not only 

 thick in the trunk, but also at the very point, in the manner of 

 quickly-growing asparagus. The maroro or malolo now appears, 

 and is abundant in many parts between tins and Angola. It 

 is a small bush with a yellow fruit, and in its appearance a dwarf 



