DAY WITH THE BUFFALO S. 359 
from thence a little before sunrise, to be on our 
hunting ground as the first streaks of the light 
dawned on the horizon the next morning. 
This is the only chance there is of obtaining a 
glimpse of these wary creatures, which always 
feed on the rich pasturage of the valleys by 
night — drink in the rivers at dawn — and then, 
passing into the densest parts of the bush, lie 
sleeping in obscurity during the hours of mid- 
day, light, and heat. 
We completed our afternoon ride just at sun- 
set, and pitching our tent and lighting a large 
fire, we proceeded to cook our supper in gypsy 
fashion, and enjoyed ourselves, for the remain- 
der of the evening, in that manner which is 
only known to those who have had the peculiar 
delights of a life in the bush. The surrounding 
landscape was truly beautiful, although its face 
was sadly marred by the burnt houses and 
devastated farms, which lay scattered on every 
hand — the monuments of the brand and " asse- 
gai" of the late Kaffir war. Few districts of 
the Colony, have suffered more severely or fre- 
quently from this cause, than this one of Al- 
bany. Lying along the frontier line, it natu- 
rally is the first scene of each renewed inroad 
from the savage. And certainly we felt little 
inclined to answer the reply of one of these 
frontier farmers, to our enquiry put to him, 
