Chap. XXIV. CHARGE 0* a BUFFALO. 325 



abundant, I had quite got out of the way of shooting, and 

 missed perpetually. Once I went with the determination of 

 getting so close that I should not miss a zebra. We followed 

 one of the ramifications of the river in a small canoe, and two 

 men, stooping down as low as they could, paddled it slowly 

 along to an open space near to a herd of zebras and pokus. 

 Although I had been most careful to approach near enough, 1 

 unfortunately only broke the hind leg of a zebra. My two 

 men pursued it, but the loss of a hind leg does not prevent 

 this animal from a gallop. As I walked slowly after the men 

 on an extensive plain covered with a great crop of grass, 

 which was laid flat by its own weight, I observed a solitary 

 buffalo coming at me at a full 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 

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

 thought flashed across my mind, " What if my gun were to 

 miss fire ?" I placed it to my shoulder as he came thundering 

 and lumbering along at a tremendous pace. A small bush 

 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 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 expressed themselves as much vexed at not having been 

 present to shield me from this danger. The tree near me was 

 a camel-thorn, which reminded me that we had returned from 

 the land of evergreens to that of thorns. 



July 21th. — We reached the town of Libonta, and w r ere re- 

 ceived with the most extravagant demonstrations of joy. The 

 women came forth to meet us with curious gestures and loud 

 lnlliloos. Some carried a mat and stick, in imitation of a 

 spear and shield. Others rushed forward to kiss the hands 

 and cheeks of their friends, raising such a dust that it was 

 quite a relief to get the men assembled with proper African 

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

 from the dead, for the most skilful of their diviners had pro- 

 nounced us to have perished long ago. After many expressions 

 of joy at meeting, I rose and explained the causes of our long 



