DAY WITH THE BUFFALOS. 365 
On this piece of land, a long string of buffalos 
were leisurely wending their way toward the 
water at the bend of the river, where, in the 
centre of the stream, a huge bull stood snuffing 
the air. The herd consisted of sixteen large 
sleek cows, while two more gigantic bulls 
brought up the rear, lagging some thirty or 
forty yards behind the others, and acting as a 
rear guard, thrown out to prevent the possibility 
of the herd being taken by surprise whilst 
drinking. In crossing the water, they all ap- 
peared to exercise the greatest caution. The 
pioneer bull was several yards in advance of 
the others, and each step he took forward, he 
seemed to measure, whilst his nose was con- 
stantly kept snuffing the wind, as he went 
along. The cows, also, as they neared the 
water, halted, and then cautiously advanced, 
one by one, smelling the footsteps of the bull, 
and of the others preceding them, on both 
banks of the river, before they attempted to 
follow them. 
Whilst we remained stationed on the hill, 
thus watching and observing the beasts, my 
companion had proceeded to stalk them in the 
bush, into which they were leisurely passing. 
Some twenty minutes were occupied in the 
process of drinking and bathing, ere the last 
two bulls had finished, the whole nineteen 
