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these parts, though it seemed to us a severe punishment 
for the offence ; and we passed a body of men, though I 
did not happen to see them, who were bound upon a 
similar errand of slaughter. 
Next motning on the tramp again, and crossed the 
Oliphant to cut off a large bend and avoid some almost 
impassable rocks, which ^^Slangey" warned us against, 
as he had a lively recollection of the struggle the Caffres 
had with their loads at that spot when coming out by this 
route with Erskine. Coming suddenly upon some fresh 
buffalo spoor after going about two hours, we pitched the 
tent, and, after seeing E. settled for the night, I and 
Dubois started to follow up the buffalo with hunters and 
Caffres. They led us across the river, and we had to swim 
where they had crossed which rather delayed us ; but 
hitting off the spoor again on the other side we followed 
on, and after being led a long way into the bush we 
ultimately came up with them, and I saw my first buffalo. 
I got a shot at a cow wounding it badly, and then there 
was a general skurry of the whole herd, shouts from the 
men, and some wild shots at the retreating buffaloes ; but 
the wounded one lagged behind, and after a few more 
shots we finished it off. I was sorry it turned out a cow 
instead of a bull, as the latter has a finer head ; but we 
had the pull in another way, as the cow's meat is much the 
best, and this proved excellent and in capital condition. 
It being almost dark by the time we killed it, I settled to 
sleep where we were, and sent off two Caffres with a note 
to reassure E., and also a bit of beef for her supper. We 
then skinned the animal and cut off the head. We made 
our dinner off the heart, cooking it as best we could. A 
little water would have been acceptable as we were thirsty 
after such a long hunt, but we were a long way from the 
river. The Caffres cut some grass for our beds with their 
useful assegais, and I was soon sound asleep curled up 
