24 
BUFFALO. 
his fate, and take refuge in the branches of a tree. 
The buffalo, however, seemed satisfied with the 
mischief he had already done, and, leaving the other 
horse untouched, suddenly turned round and gal- 
loped off. 
Dr. Sparrman, accompanied by some other gen- 
tlemen, attacked one of these ferocious creatures, 
which was preparing to make towards them from 
behind a bush. He fell, however, the moment they 
discharged their guns, but got upon his legs again, 
and ran down into the thickest part of the wood. 
Induced from this circumstance to suppose his 
wound mortal, they had the imprudence to follow 
him into the close thickets, through which they 
fortunately could not penetrate, and therefore re- 
tired to a rising ground to rest themselves. Soon 
afterwards, the buffalo, who only proved to be 
slightly wounded, came to the skirts of the wood 
opposite the gentlemen, and was making towards 
them; when a shot entered his belly, and forced the 
animal again to retire, dyeing the ground and bushes 
all the way he went with his blood. The party 
then advanced with the greatest caution, attended 
by their Hottentots, through the thin and more 
pervious part of the wood, where the buffalo had 
taken shelter. The furious animal had still strength 
enough left to renew the attack, and would have 
probably sacrificed some of them to his revenge, 
had he not received a shot in the lungs, which 
proved mortal. cc During his fall, and before he 
died,” says the doctor, “ he bellowed in a most 
