Part 25 (2/2)
CHAPTER XXI
As they fully expected to fall in with a herd of buffaloes as they proceeded, they started very early on the followingthat the water was plentiful in the river, and, in soe holes which they passed, they heard the snorting and blowing of the hippopotaht of the Hottentots, ere very anxious to procure one, being very partial to its flesh
As they traveled that day, they fell in with a small party of Bushmen; they were shy at first, but one or two of the wo some presents of snuff and tobacco, the others soon joined; and as they understood from Omrah and the Hottentots that they were to hunt in the afternoon, they followed the caravan, with the hopes of obtaining food
They were a very di ,--that is, the young ones; and one or two of theured with grease and dirt
Indeed the effluvia frolad that they should keep at a distance; and Alexander said to Swinton, ”Is it true that the lion and other aniher flavor, Swinton, or is it only a joke?”
”I should think there must be some truth in the idea,” observed the Major; ”for they say that the Bengal tiger will always take a native in preference to a European”
”It is, I believe, not to be disputed,” replied Swinton, ”that for one European devoured by the lion or other animals, he feasts upon ten Hottentots or Bush, not exactly to his perceiving any difference in the flesh of a black and whitehis preference The lion, like ame by his scent as well as by his eye; that is certain Now I appeal to you, who have got rid of these Bushmen, and who knoell how odoriferous is the skin of a Hottentot, whether a lion's nose is not much more likely to be attracted by one of either of these tribes of people, than it would by either you or ed our position, when the wind has borne down upon us the effluvia of the Hottentot as driving?--why that effluvia is borne doith the wind for miles, and is as savory to the lion, I have no doubt, as a beefsteak is to us”
”There can, I think, be no doubt of that,” said Alexander; ”but it is said that they will select a Hottentot from white men”
”No doubt of it, because they follow up the scent right to the party froive you an instance of it I was once traveling with a Dutch faron and Hottentots We unyoked and lay down on the sand for the night; there were the farmer and I, two Hottentot men and a woman--by the by, a very fat one, and who consequently was ht a lion ca us all, and by his tracks, as we found on the following , he had passed close to the farht was so dark that we could see nothing; ere roused by her shrieks, and seized our guns, but it was of no use I recollect another instance which was not so tragical A Hottentot was carried off by a lion during the night, wrapped up in his sheep-skin kaross, sleeping, as they usually do, with his face to the ground As the lion trotted aith hile out of his kaross, and the lion went off only his mantle”
”Well, I should think one of the karosses ry lion,” said the Major;--”but I iine it is almost time to unyoke; we must have traveled nearly twenty ame we are in search of”
”I suspect that they contain not only buffaloes, but elephants; however, we shall soon find out by exa for water”
”I think that yonder knoll would be a good place to fix our encampment, Swinton,” said the Major; ”it is well shaded with mimosas, and yet clear of the eneral, and e the wagons as usual, and turn the cattle out to feed As soon as this had been accomplished, they saddled their horses, and awaited the return of Swanevelt, who had gone to reconnoiter Shortly afterward he returned, with the report that there were the tracks of elephants, buffaloes, and lions, in every direction by the river's banks; and as the dogs would now be of use, they were ordered to be let loose, which they seldoularly hunted down Our travelers mounted and proceeded into the forest, accompanied by all the Hottentots except the cattle-keepers and the Bush on horseback, as well as themselves As they rode forward slowly and cautiously at the outset, Swinton asked the Major whether he had ever shot buffaloes
”Yes, in India,” replied the Major; ”and desperate animals they are in that country”
”I was about to say that you will find them such here; and, Alexander, you must be very careful In the first place, a leaden bullet is of little use against their tough hides, and, I may almost say, impenetrable foreheads The best shot is under the fore-shoulder”
”Our balls are hardened with tin,” observed Alexander
”I know that,” replied Swinton; ”but still they are le buffalo It is much safer to attack a herd; but we have no time to talk over the matter now, only, as I say, be very careful, and whatever you do, do not approach one which is wounded, even if he be down on his knees But here comes Bremen with news”
The Hottentot cae herd of buffaloes on the other side of the hill, and proposed that they should take a sweep round them, so as to drive theood, and was acted upon; and, after riding about a ained the position which sees were then let loose, and the Hottentots on foot, spread the so as to drive the aniether and for a short while stood at bay with the large bulls in front, and then set off through the forest toward the river, followed by all the hunters on horse and on foot In a quarter of an hour the whole herd had taken refuge in a large pool in the river, which, with the reeds and rushes, and sround
The Major, with Swanevelt and two other Hottentots, proceeded further up the river, that they reed to wait until the signal was given by the Major's firing
As soon as they heard the report of the Major's rifle, Swinton and Alexander, with their party, advanced to the banks of the river They plunged in, and were soon up to the horses' girths, with the reeds far above their heads They could hear the anih the reeds, but could not see them; and after some severe labor, Swinton said--”Alexander, it will be prudent for us to go back; we can do nothing here, and we shall stand a chance of being shot by our own people, who can not see us We s to drive theain the banks”