Untrodden Paths 
37 
bringing home as complete a set of collections as the time would 
allow. Knowing, too, the ideas held by Professor Matschie, of 
the Berlin Zoological Museum, for the propagation of the buffalo, 
I particularly desired to try and fill up any gaps that existed in 
the series of his observations. For five days I hunted the buffalo 
untiringly, but all my efforts to bag one were vain. I often 
nearly came up with a herd, but some slight, unavoidable noise, 
such as the breaking of a papyrus stalk or a sudden puff of wind, 
would ruin the attempt. To secure my end I often sacrificed my 
night’s rest, watching in glorious moonshine. I would leave the 
camp, and attempt to stalk the buffaloes until after midnight in 
an inhospitable, desolate, and most inconceivably trying tract of 
country. Many a time I have heard buffaloes all round me 
passing through the papyrus, and with my rifle ready I have 
waited for their appearance at one of the many clearings. All in 
vain! I did not manage to get in a single shot, and turned back 
to camp terribly disappointed and horribly stung by mosquitoes. 
On one occasion a characteristic short, sharp growl from a 
leopard riveted my attention, but in spite of the clear moonlight 
I could not sight him. I returned to the swamp again, accom¬ 
panied by the faithful Ombascha Mtoni, my companion of the 
Masai steppe in 1905. All the others remained behind. On 
joining them again, empty handed, they showed me the fresh 
tracks of two lions which had come within rifle range but had 
vanished at their shouts. The last straw! 
The 23rd of July brought us further correspondence. Weiss 
sent a letter dated from Oregero begging for provisions. I also 
received a letter from Captain von Grawert, the Ruanda Resident, 
inviting me to visit the palace of Sultan Msinga of Ruanda on 
our march from Mohasi to Lake Kiwu ; he proposed to await us 
there, where great preparations for our arrival were already being 
made. Then a report had to be sent to Leipzig, which occupied 
nearly the rest of the day. 
By this time our commissariat supplies were dwindling to 
such an alarming extent that we could not think of remaining 
any longer where we were if we desired to avoid serious trouble. 
