14 
AFRICAN HUNTING. 
started again on the 30th for St. Lucia Bay* They 
pulled above twenty miles through a fine country; lots 
of sea-cows, and wildfowl of every description ; and 
about midday were forced to go ashore, as the wind 
and sea were so dead ahead that they found they 
could make no way, and the boat was at times half 
full of water, so they about ship and ran before the 
wind, much to their delight, living on geese and 
water melons (capital things on a hot day); spent 
a very comfortable night before the fires, without 
any blankets ; and reached their destination at 12 
next day, having shot two sea-cows on their way up. 
I had employed my time by going out with the 
Kaffirs. I did not understand a word of their 
language, but by their signs I came to the conclusion 
that I was to remain by a small thorn tree, near a 
corner of the lake full of reeds. Gibson accompanied 
me. The Kaffirs all left us, and I fell asleep, to be 
suddenly awaked by Gibson in a great state of alarm 
bolting up the hill, and calling loudly to me to follow. 
As soon as my eyes were open, I saw a huge buffalo 
bull charging right down the hill towards me, pur¬ 
sued by all the Kaffirs. He came at a headlong 
pace within twenty yards before seeing me, when he 
hesitated an instant, dashed into the reeds and came 
broadside past me, within twenty-five yards, at a 
brisk trot, knee-deep in water, making it fly all over 
him in a shower of crystal. I fired, and luckily, for 
it was a bad shot, broke his spine, and down he fell 
bellowing like a bull-calf; the Kaffirs rushed in pell- 
