large bull buffalo drinking, just as we descended
the hill. As this would be close to the larder, I
stalked to within ninety yards, and fired a Reilly
No. 10 into his back, as his head inclined to the
water. For the moment he fell upon his knees,
but recovering immediately, he rushed up the steep
bank of the island, receiving my left-hand barrel
between the shoulders, and he disappeared in the
dense covert of green nabbuk on the margin. As
we were to camp within a few yards of the spot,
he was close to home; therefore, having crossed the
river, we carefully followed the blood tracks through
the jungle; but, after having pushed our way for
about twenty paces through the dense covert, I came
to the wise conclusion that it was not the place for
following a wounded buffalo, and that we should
find him dead on the next morning. A few yards
upon our right hand was a beautiful open glade,
commanding a view of the river, and surrounded
by the largest nabbuk trees that afforded a delightful
shade in the midst of the thick covert. This was
a spot that in former years had been used by the
aggageers as a camp, and we accordingly dismounted,
and turned the horses to graze upon the welcome
grass. Each horse was secured to a peg by a long
leathern thong, as the lions in this neighbourhood
were extremely dangerous, having the advantage of
thick and opaque jungle.
We employed ourselves until the camels should
arrive, in cutting thorn branches, and constructing
a zareeba, or fenced camp, to protect our animals
during the night from the attack of wild beasts.
I also hollowed out a thick green bush to form
an arbour, as a retreat during the heat of the day,
and in a short space of time we were prepared for
the reception of the camels and effects. The river
had cast up immense stores of dry wood; this we
had collected, and, by the time the camels arrived
with the' remainder of our party after dark, huge
fires were blazing high in air, the light of which
had guided them direct to our camp. They were
heavily laden with meat, which is the Arab’s great
source of happiness, therefore in a few minutes the
whole party was busily employed in cutting the
flesh into long thin strips to dry; these were hung
in festoons over the surrounding trees, while the
.fires were heaped with tit-bits of all descriptions.
I had chosen a remarkably snug position for ourselves ;
the two angareps (stretchers) were neatly arranged
in the middle of a small open space free from overhanging
boughs; near these blazed a large fire, upon
which were roasting a row of marrow-bones of
buffalo and tetel, while the table was spread with
a clean cloth, and arranged for dinner.
The woman Barrakd, who had discovered with
regret that she was not a wife but a servant, had
got over the disappointment, and was now making
dhurra cakes upon the doka : this is a round earthenware
tray about eighteen inches in diameter, which,
. supported upon three stones or lumps of earth, over