Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-01
Charged by Wild Buffalo in Africa

were GOWN,
the seething rush had whirled past, and my
nerves were beginning to unclinch when Omari
said quietly, "Cuick-in blslk." and turned
to see horned head jutting through a bush
behind me, about 18 feet away. It was pre-
ssmably the black bull we had passed. tearing
up to see what the row was about. remem-
Der that as fired my Springfield. H. BIS big
gun sounded almost with mine. We certainly
turned him. for he whi-led off, still in the
bushes. It was the nearest thing 10 q charge
we had had so far, but the approach was SO
bush obscured that all got Of It was that
nightmariSh horn and black forehead in the
leaves.
MY feeling. when it was all over was sheer
W elation that we were stfii alive and that
hadn't run or dived into rabbit hole or done
anything to disgrace my sex In trousers. AS
for Fl. B.. it was his first African buffalo. and
he could feel that he had not been stinted!
In the fast-failing light we made our way
cautiously among the bushes and found the
three dead buffaloes. We left Bigelows a big
black. for photography the next morning, hav-
ing the men bring in the others for immediate
food. 1t was hard haul to get them, even
IN sections, across the river and through the
darkened grass and we marched with guns on
ready. fearful Of encountering wounded buffalo.
Back at the huts cur chairs and the mule
were waiting and with torches swinging and
porters singing jubiantly, the longed-for meat
rugged Denln0 us, We were borne N African
triumph through the dark.
We put in next day one of those restful days
In camp that consists IN unlocking all the
trophy boxes and spreading out the collections
to air-mouldy shields and skins and baskets
and musical instruments and rusted knives
and then getting them all in again at the first
unforeseen rush Of rain; IN Kidding of "dudus"
the skins purchased from chiefs sweet, mas
culine job this, stimulating to the PROFESSIONAL
mindl-in leveling the mess tent floor, filing
the lamp, writing up diaries, bartering with the
natives, handing out medicine repacking and
sorting the opened food boxes and getting out
camera supplies. We had a rain that day that
flooded us and the tent trenches roared like
cataractS. We felt sure that our hunters could
camp anywhere and have plenty Of water.
For several days we stayed at Green Fill
camp. hunting hard from the first break Of
light to its last close.
THE region was literally alive with buffalo.
No hour of the day was free from possible
encounter. They looked like wild cattle, and
although the Abyssinian bun does not present
the massive majesty of the Cape buffalo, with
Its shaggy shoulders and wide down-spreading
horns. he IS very wicked-locking creature,
alert and vicious, with trueulent menace that
We got to know rather well. Although often
called the red buffalo, there seemed to be as
many blacks as red in the herds
One Of the things that makes the buffalo
such dangerous game is the thoroughness Of his
attack and the annihilating quality OF his
methods Carl Akeley puts the buffalo first as
the most dangerous of Africais big game with
the elephant a close second.
Selous and Grogan put the lion first, and
Roosevelt said that. in his judgment. the sum-
mary OF opinion Of those best fitted to Judge
was that the Lon was most dangerous. But
know that IN every conversation had with
hunters in British East they all put the buffalo
Or elephant ahead of the lion.
More men are killed by lions, but perhaps
more men hunt lions, or the lion gets his toll
among unprepared ranchers. At any rate. the
chances Of escape are better from Q Lion than
from q buffalo or elephant. for the lion may
spring away after biting or clawing. but the
elephant will butt you to pieces or run you
through and then kneel on your chest and the
buffalo wiz run you through and stamp you into
nothingnesS.
At Green Hill camp buffalo were constant
worry to us in long grass. When following trails
we were always being brought to q standstim
with that thrill Of alarm that every hunter
knows. hearing . swish in the brush or . stir.
ring IN the leaves. Sometimes We caught the
curve Of q great back making or, sometimes
. horned head looked out uncertainty at us.
Almost invariably the buffa.oes made or though
twice there were direct charges.
The FIRST charge we brought upon ourselves
for We were out after a herd that we had been
watching. from which had decided to take
two buffaloes for meat and for trophies. We
stalked them without dificulty, and even had
. rock On which to climb for observation as
they took the alarm and hurried Oh. It was
the easiest hunt was ever on. Arthur and
were to have the first shots and he took black
specimen and I a red and as they came out
into view We opened fire and brought them
down.
The herd rayed out in stampede, but one big
red fellow that we had not seen, who had been
in the deep grass between us and those We were
after, whirled around and came straight at us.