148 HUNTING THE BUFFALO. Chap. VI. 



moving the patient from place to place is most conducive 

 to the cure ; and the more pluck a man has — the less he 

 gives in to the disease — the less likely he is to die. 



Supplied with water by the pools in the Podebode, we 

 again joined the Zambesi at the confluence of the rivulet. 

 When passing through a dry district the native hunter 

 knows where to expect water by the animals he sees. The 

 presence of the gemsbuck, duiker or diver, springbucks, 

 or elephants, is no proof that water is near; for these 

 animals roam over vast tracts of country, and may be 

 met scores of miles from it. Not so, however, the zebra, 

 pallah, buffalo, and rhinoceros ; their spoor gives assurance 

 that water is not far off, as they never stray any distance 

 from its neighbourhood. But when amidst the solemn 

 stillness of the woods, the singing of joyous birds falls 

 upon the ear, it is certain that water is close at hand. 



Our men in hunting came on an immense herd of buffa- 

 loes, quietly resting in the long dry grass, and began to 

 blaze away furiously at the astonished animals. In the 

 wild excitement of the hunt, which heretofore had been 

 conducted with spears, some forgot to load with ball, and, 

 firing away vigorously with powder only, wondered for 

 the moment that the buffaloes did not fall. The slayer 

 of the young elephant, having buried his four bullets in 

 as many buffaloes, fired three charges of No. 1 shot he 

 had for killing guinea-fowl. The quaint remarks and 

 merriment after these little adventures seemed to the 

 listener like the pleasant prattle of children. Mbia and 

 Mantlanyane, however, killed one buffalo each ; both the 

 beasts were in prime condition ; the meat was like really 

 excellent beef, with a smack of venison. A troop of 

 hungry, howling hyenas also thought the savour tempt- 

 ing, as they hung round the camp at night, anxious to 

 partake of the feast. They are, fortunately, arrant cow- 

 ards, and never attack either men or beasts except they 



