THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
lion or lions, would also undoubtedly be ready to charge anyone who was 
unlucky enough to approach it unawares in thick bush or long grass. I 
was once put into a tree myself by such an animal, and as it stood just 
beneath me, with its nose close to my feet, I was able to see that it had only 
recently been terribly bitten all over the neck and shoulders by lions, which, 
however, it had managed to beat off. In certain parts of South Africa lions 
were accustomed to prey constantly on the great herds of buffaloes, which 
were more plentiful than any other animals in the same districts. Buffalo 
cows, which were the usual victims, seldom, I think, escaped after once 
having been seized, but the enormously massive and heavy old bulls often 
did so, and I have shot many of them which had been frightfully mauled 
before they had succeeded in beating off their ferocious assailants. Speaking 
from my own experience, I would say that a wounded buffalo may always 
be expected to charge if closely approached, but I have only known one 
instance of one of these animals starting his charge from any considerable 
distance in open country. Usually, if a wounded buffalo is followed through 
open forest free from undergrowth, it will be difficult to approach, as it 
will be very much on the alert and will gallop off again and again whenever 
it becomes aware that it is being pursued. Once, however, let such an 
animal get into thick cover where it will be impossible for it to see its 
pursuer until he suddenly appears close to it, and in all probability it will 
immediately charge. When anyone speaks of a buffalo charging with 
lowered head, that is plain proof that he has never really seen one of these 
animals charging, as they invariably hold their heads high and come on 
grunting, with their noses outstretched and their horns laid back on either 
side of the neck. A charging buffalo comes on at an almost incredible rate 
of speed, when its very heavy build and short legs are taken into con- 
sideration, and with a short start it requires a good horse to keep in front 
of one. I have known an instance of a fairly good horse having been over- 
taken and thrown to the ground by a wounded buffalo cow. Should a buffalo 
make good its charge, it does not dip its head to strike a blow with its 
horns until its outstretched nose almost touches the object of its attack. 
In East Africa one hears of buffaloes, not only singly but in herds, coming 
up the wind to attack human beings whom they have scented from afar. 
It may be so; but the buffaloes I have myself met with in that part of Africa 
did not act in this way. I have had a very great deal of experience with 
buffaloes in the southern portion of the continent, and such incidents, I 
think I am correct in stating, never occurred there. I have certainly, on 
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