2G6 
BUFFALO-HUNT. 
Chap. XY. 
stages on wliicli the Balonda dry their meat, when they come 
down to hunt and gather the produce of the wild hives. In one 
part we came upon groups of lofty trees as straight as masts, 
with festoons of orchilla-weed hanging from the branches. This, 
which is used as a dye-stuff, is found nowhere in the dry country 
to the south. It prefers the humid climate near the west coast. 
A large buffalo was wounded, and ran into the thickest part 
of the forest, bleeding profusely. The young men went on his 
trail; and, though the vegetation was so dense that no one could 
have run more than a few yards, most of them went along quite 
carelessly, picking and eating a fruit of the melon family, called 
Mponko. When the animal heard them approach he always 
fled, shifting his stand and doubling on his conrse in the most 
cunning manner. In other cases I have known them turn back 
to a point a few yards from their own trail, and then lie down in 
a hollow, waiting for the hunter to come up. Though a heavy, 
lumbering-looking animal, his charge is then rapid and terrific. 
More accidents happen by the buffalo, and the black rliinoceros, 
than by the lion. Though all are aware of the mischievous 
nature of the buffalo when wounded, our young men went after 
Inm quite carelessly. They never lose their presence of mind, 
but, as a buffalo charges back in a forest, dart dexterously out 
of his way beliind a tree, and, wheeling round it, stab liim as he 
passes. 
A tree in flower brought the pleasant fragrance of hawthorn- 
hedges back to memory; its leaves, flowers, perfume, and fruit, 
resembled those of the hawthorn, only the flowers were as large 
as dog-roses, and the haws ” like boys’ marbles. Here the 
flowers smell sweetly, wliile few in the south emit any scent at 
all, or only a nauseous odour. A botanist would find a rich 
harvest on the banks of the Leeba. Tliis would be his best 
season, for the flowers all run rapidly to seed, and then insects 
of every shape spring into existence to devoin them. The 
climbing plants display great vigoin of growth, being not only 
thick in the trunk, but also at tlie very point, in the manner of 
quickly-growing asparagus. The maroro or malolo now appears, 
and is abundant in many parts between this and Angola. It 
is a small bush with a yellow Auit, and in its appearance a dwarf 
