The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-05-12
HUNTING THE AFRICAN BUFFALO.

The opening OF the Pacific Railroad
the formation of numerous hunting pal
ties, and the wholesale slaughter Q
butfaloes on the plains OF the West, hav
made the American-maned animal 8
familiar that any thing like detailed de
scription of it and its peculiarities ]
unnecessary. The great use OF the butfal
is shown by Greenwood, who says tina
three hundred thousand human being
depend entirely upon it for living. Tn
flesh is their meat; the skin serves then
ior coats, and beds, and boots, and wall
for their tents, and tiles for the roof, ant
for saddles and brides, and lassoes; tn
bones are converted into saddle-trees
into war clubs, into whistles and mu
steal instruments; Of the horn are mad'
ladies and spoons, and pins and spear
heads; the sinews serve for strings II
their bows. for thread to stitch their buf
falo robes, to stitch the tent-cloth, ant
for the attachment to their persons o
scalps and such other articles OF verta al
may tall in their way. The buffal0's iea
and hoOfs, when stewed, yield superi
or glue, which is largely used in the
construction of hunting-spears and ar
rows; Its name is twisted into ropes and
horse -halters, and the tuft at the eXtrem
| iCy of its tail as a whisk or fy-brush; the
brains, even. are not wasted but are
employed in the preparation of leather
thongs, cut from the hide. All of which
goes to show that the American anima
has some use in the economy OF nature
| The buffalo of the Eastern Continent
is one of the most terrible Of animals,
and natives of Australia have declared
| that they would rather stand up as tar
| ,,,t IA n, ia ot thirIy mana than IN hC
placed within that distance of these an
imals without tree near at hand.
Captain Drum accompanied by two
Kalirs-both of whom were armed with
good rifles the same as himsell-were
hunting at the Cape, when they came
upon drove OF butfaloes, into which
the three tired. None OF the animals
dropped, but a stampede Instantly fol-
lowed, and they we're off like shot. AL
though there was little prospect of CON-
ing UP with them, yet the Trio in the ex-
element of the moment, dashed for
ward in pursuit, gradually diverging.
but still remaining within hail OF each
other.
When this pursuit was continued some
time, the pursuers were brought to a
standstilI by the great density of the. for
est. Although fifty large animals had
It was Impossible to follow. Captain
Drum accordingly turned 10 the lett,
hoping thereby to run afoul OF some
strange animal, a wish that was very
speedily gratlied.
BY changing his course, and proceed
ing ut right angles to the route taken by
the buffaloes, he soon crossed and left
their trail, or spoor, ana found himself
picking his way through the dense wood
and undergrO WITH, where there were no
signs of any wild beasts having preceded
him very recently.
He mad sgnaled to the Kaffirs, and
was convinced that they were following
close behind him.
The captain was old hunter enough to
understand that there WAS no possibility
of getting within striking distance of any
game without using the utmost stealth.
He WAS picking his way, therefore, with
the silence OF all Indian scout, through
the intersLices between the leaves, when
he saw the outlines Of dark body upon
The ground, which he concluded at once
was buffalo.
As carefully as possible he slowly ad-
yanced until his vision was cleared,
" hen he discovered an immense bull ly-
ing upon the ground, asleep, with its
head turned toward him.
HThat's lucky now," ne thought, as he
sank down and prepared to hre. ut
isn't often a fellow can find his game in
such nice shape as that"
Holding the trigger back, 80 as to
deaden the sound OF the clicking, he
drew the'hammer to full cock. He was
in the act OF raising it to his shoulder,
a twig snapped beneath his feet, and the
bull instantly opened its eyes.
One glance showed to 1t the hunter,
kneeling. scarcely rod distant, and
with quick perception OF its danger, it
instantly rose to Its feet, for the pur-
pose OF "disposing" of him.
1t was hardly erect, when the captain
fred, and without waiting to see the re-
suit, leaped aside and squatted beneath
some bushes. The instant he did SO, he
saw the infuriate animal coming like a
wild elephant, its head lowered, and
every muscle strained to goxe the one
v ho hud inflicted it's hurt. Its horns
were covered with brush, and its mo-
mentum must have been terrific.
1t almost grazed the crouching sports
man as it thundered by, and he gave it
the charge from the other barrel as it
passed.
the distance was SO slight that the
muzzle OF the gun was actually struck
by the body OF the brute, although the
aim was not sufficiently deviated TO pre-
vent the bullet entering some part OF Its
cal cass.
1t produced no sensible effect upon its
speed, however, nor did it apprise it OF
the location OF its foe. IL is probable
that the flash and report would have
caused it to turn and charge again, but
for the fact that one of the Kaf1irs put in
an appearance at this juncture and drew
attention to HIM.
Ihe native had been attracted by the
firing of the gun, and the bull, catching
sight of him, took it Tor granted that he
was the offender, and continued its
charge with the same furious impetu-
Osity.
The Kafir uttered some ejaculatory
prayer, in his own tongue and raising
his gun, fired 50 wildly that his bullet
was lost among the upper branches; and
then, throwing down his weapon, he ran
for dear life, aiming for tree 0nfy a
short distance away, among whose
branches he hoped to lind security.
The fellow WAS very nimblo of foot.
and ran with surprising agility; but, as
a matter Of course, his speed could not
approach thai of the buffalo, which
crashed through the bushes like loco
motive off the track. However, by .des-
perate haste, the fugitive reached the
tree, q lew teet IN advance, and leaping
upward, grasped the limb, and curled up
4. To IN tbo. .t,,il 10 hs