land, as I wanted to see if they corresponded with those I shot in
Usagara; but the gawky giraffes, always in the way, gave the alarm, and
drove all but two of the buffaloes away. At these two I now went with
my only rifle, leaving the servants and savages behind. They were out
in the open grass feeding composedly, so that I stole up to within forty
yards of them, and then, in a small naked patch of ground, I waited my
opportunity, and put a ball behind the shoulder of the larger one. At
the sound of the gun, in an instant both bulls charged, but they pulled
up in the same naked ground as myself, sniffing and tossing their horns,
while looking out for their antagonist, who, as quick as themselves, had
thrown himself flat on the ground.

There we were, like three fools, for twenty minutes or so; one of the
buffaloes bleeding at the mouth and with a broken hind-leg, for the
bullet had traversed his body, and the other turning round and round
looking out for me, while I was anxiously watching him, and by degrees
loading my gun. When ready, I tried a shot at the sound one, but the cap
snapped and nearly betrayed me, for they both stared at the spot where I
lay--the sound one sniffing the air and tossing his horns, but the other
bleeding considerably. Some minutes more passed in this manner, when
they allowed me to breathe freer by walking away. I followed, of course,
but could not get a good chance; so, as the night set in, I let them
alone for the time being, to get out the following morning.

21st and 22d.--At the place where I left off, I now sprang a large
herd of fifty or more buffaloes, and followed them for a mile, when the
wounded one, quite exhausted from the fatigue, pulled up for a charge,
and allowed me to knock him over. This was glorious fun for the
villagers, who cut him up on the spot and brought him home. Of course,
one half the flesh was given to them, in return for which they brought
us some small delicacies to show their gratitude; for, as they truly
remarked, until we came to their village they never knew what it was to
get a present, or any other gift by a good thrashing.

23d.--To-day I tried the ground again, and, whilst walking up the hill,
two black rhinoceros came trotting towards us in a very excited manner.
I did not wish to fire at them, as what few bullets remained in my store
I wished to reserve in better sport, and therefore for the time being,
let them alone. Presently, however, they separ