Wichita eagle., 1889-06-23
MIGRATION OF WILD ANIMALS.
Herd. Of BufAloe., Deer and Gar.ne. OF
<y,> frsraa Plaiu&.

Herds Of Bufraloes, Deer and Girafres on
tho African Plains.
We had left the Orange river and were
sstaekkingn slowly across Basutoland. One
afternoon. two or three hours before sun
down we reached knoll or slight elevation
Up this the weary oxen clambered, straining
At their yokes with reddenedeyes and stream
ing tanks. The day had been scorching and
the tracks sandy. Upon this hill we intended
to outspan and encamp for the night My
friend Elcho and had walked on ahead, and
therefore reached the summit of the hill first.
What a sight met Us. There before us
stretched an immense rolling plain, far as the
eye could reach-nothing but great brown
sea of table land that seemed to dwarf by its
immensely a belt of forest trees to the east,
where shining river shone like silver rib
bon, winding in and out amid the dense foli-
age.
"Looki look!" exclaimed Elcho, pointing
and spreading out his arms, the land waves
like the sea-what is it," l stood and stared
with him. it was so strange. The very earth
seemed undulating before u.s. and then Berg
mann, the Dutch transport rider. came up.
What is itP' we asked him, pointing from
the land beneath us to the horizon
Animals" he replied. 1t was true; we
had happened upon great and wonderful
migration.
Livery seven years." said the trader, ''this
takes place; large droves OF animals move
from one pasture land TO another; as they
proceed they gather more herds, till they
swell to the numbers we see before US; they're
in miliions"
1t was SO stupendous e sight that no pen
can do justice to the picture; from the wagon
we brought our field glasses and stood watch
ing tb en-; the nearest, about two miles away,
were buffaloesL There seemed no limit to the
dark, shaggy creatures Far away in the
distance were giraffes and ostriches, their
slender necks lifting against the sky; between
them and the buffaloes were gnus veldbeests,
springboks, gazelles, koodoos, antelopes, every
kind and variety Of deer that roam the great
plains of Africa.
All were moving slowly along, and all, ex-
cept the giratfes and ostriches, had their
reads down feeding, gradually eating their
way, devouring the somewhat scanty herb
age before them. They would go on till they
reached the rich lands where their instincts
were taking them, where they would be gra-
dually distributed as circumstances and their
breed might direct them.
When the wagon, with its white canvas
hood, hove in view and then came to stand
still on the hilltop. it caused some excitement
in the herd Of buffaloes nearest to as. Berg
mann, after giving directions to the Kaffirs
for the outspanning for the night, came ap to
Elcho and myself and suggested our getting a
shot at buffalo calf There is no twilight in
Africa; after the sun has set it rapidly grows
dark, so there was no time to be lost
We mounted our horses and rode away into
the ''veldt." As we gauoped along the turfy
plain we saw that the buffaloes were increas-
ing their speed, and presently great dun
colored cloud Of fine dust rose into the air.
We rode a couple of miles with our rifles in
our hands, Bergman in advance: then, with
a quick movement, he flung himself from his
saddle, leveled his gun and fired, the well
trained horse standing perfectly still He
then vaulted into his saddle again and swept
on. Ee had aimed at a calf, but missed, All
hit an old bull. The courageous beast stood
waiting for US, thereby covering the retreat
Of the herd that Numbered along in dusly
swiftness. Before we reached the animal,
however, he turned and with mighty bounds
followed the drove.-Cor. London Illustrated
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