BUFFALOES. 
35 
was a herd of buffaloes near the river Umveloose, 
and we agreed to wage war on them at sunrise. 
Accordingly, we were off at peep of day with 
seven guns, and after about three-quarters of an hour’s 
hard walking, over frightfully stony ground, came 
in sight of a herd of about forty buffaloes, but they 
made off out of shot, hearing the noise we made over 
the stones. After two hours’ hard chase, running and 
dodging in all directions, five were brought to bag. 
Steele had a narrow escape; a young bull, with his 
leg broken and his tail shot off, just hit him on the heel 
as he dropped his gun and sprang into a thorn-tree. 
I shot a fine fat young cow at full speed, hard pressed 
by three dogs, right through the spine and lungs. 
She fell bellowing after a few yards, almost on the 
top of the one which had charged Steele, and which 
I afterwards killed myself. The cow I shot was 
claimed by Anton, who had given her the first bullet, 
without the slightest injury ; but the rules of the chase 
are, that the first shot lays claim to the animal, the 
bullet being the proof. Edmonstone had given the 
young bull the first shot, and therefore claimed him, 
so I had my sport for nothing. The Zulus, hearing 
the shooting, came down like so many vultures ; but 
the lazy blackguards refused to lend a hand to carry 
the meat back to the camp, and one fellow was caught 
helping himself to some nice steaks from a leg cut off, 
and ready to be taken to camp, by our own Kaffirs. 
White knocked him over with a heavy stone in the 
ribs, and the rest made themselves scarce for a little 
