386 A JOURNEY IN 
not many hours before. Just as they were leaving the lake 
a herd of wild buffaloes wei'e obse^rved at a distance, advancing 
towards the place where they were posted, on which prepara- 
tions were immediately made to receive them. When these 
huge animals had approached sufficiently near, the party 
fired a volley among them, and had the satisfaction to see three 
of them fall to the ground, of so large a size that the carcase 
of one was found to be more than sufficient to feast the whole 
company. Continuing the journey till night Avithout finding any 
water, they were nevertheless compelled to halt from the 
fatigued state of the oxen. In the morning before day-break 
they resumed their journey over a wide and desert plain, on 
Avhich, however, a few trees were thinly scattered. In the 
coiu'se of this day our travellers, it seems, were highly grati- 
fied with the sight of a novel and interesting object. It was 
a giraffe or carnelopardalis trotting before them, at no great 
distance, in a very singular and awkward manner, apparently 
at a slow pace ; but on being chased, it was found to clear 
the ground with such celerity as to leave its pursuers far be- 
hind. Presently after this a herd, consisting of nine full 
grown animals and two young foals, made its appearance; 
upon which the whole party immediately gave chase, in the 
hope of being able to take at least the foals ; but their speed 
was so great that they presently outstripped the fleetest horse 
and vanished out of sight. 
Having now travelled eighteen hours without halting, and 
more than thirty hours without the cattle having tasted water, 
they at length arrived, to their inexpressible joy, at the most 
