San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-07-17
MIGRATION OF WILD ANIMALS.
Herds OF Buffaloes, Deer and Giraffes on
the African Plains.

Herds OF Buffaloes, Deer ana Giranes ON
the African Plains.
We had left the Orange river and were
"taekking" 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 Redeemed eyes 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. Ny
friend Elcho and had walked on ahead, and
therefore reached the summit of the hill first.
What a sight met usl. There before us
stretched an immense rolling plain, far as the
eve could reach-nothing but great brown
sea of table land that seemed to dwarf by its
immensely belt of forest trees to the east,
where shining river shone like silver rib
bon. winding in and out amid the dense foil
age
"Looki look!" exclaimed Elcho, pointing
and spreading out his arms, "the land waves
like the sea-what is itg' | stood and stared
with him, it was so strange. The very earth
seemed undulating before us, and then Berg
mann, the Dutch transport rider. came up.
"What is it?" we asked him. pointing from
the land beneath US to the horizon.
animals" he replied. 1t was true; we
had happened upon a great and wonderful
migration.
Every 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 millionsl"
1t was so stupendous sight that no pen
can do justice to the picture; from the wagon
we brought our field glasses and stood watch
ing them; the nearest, about two miles away,
we're buffaloes 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 giraffes and ostrches, had their
heads 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-
breed might direct them.
w nen Ine wagon, WIFI It's "Hlle CdHNdS
hood, hove in view and then came to stand
still on the hilltop, it caused some excitement
in the herd of buffaloes nearest to us. Berg
mann, after giving directions to the Kafffrs
for the outspanning for the night, came up to
Elcho and myself and suggested our gettinga
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 galloped along the turfy
plain we saw that the buffalOeS were increas-
ing their speed, and presently a great dun
colored cloud of fine dust rose into the air.
We rode a couple of miles with our rifles in
our bands Bergman in advance: then, with
a quick movement, he Gung 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. He had aimed at calf, but missed, and
hit an old bull. The courageous beast stood
waiting for US, thereby covering the retreat
of the herd that murdered along in dusky
swiftness. Before we reached the animal,
however, he turned and with mighty bounds
followed the drove.-Cor. London Illustrated
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