Part 2 of the Buffalo Story in the Belgian Congo, 1940

In case you missed Part 1, it is on the blog dated December 20, 2011

We ended with the chief, his hunters, Laban, Toma, and Charlie spotting the buffalo in the distance. With hearts pounding from excitement and downright fear, plus anticipation of the next move, Toma grabbed a light fist full of dry grass and threw it into the air to make sure that they were down wind. Being down wind was important because one of the five top killers in Africa is the cape buffalo, and you want your scent to go away from the buffalo instead of toward him. So, after checking the direction of the wind, they were satisfied that their position was down wind from the buffalo herd.

Immediately, upon spotting the herd, Dad, Toma, the chief, and his hunters were looking for the largest bull. They were all in the thrill of the cape buffalo moment. They spotted the largest male. All agreed that the one standing tall and strong was the leader of the herd among a total of about 20 to 25 buffalo.

Most in the group began to secrete a smelly sweat which would mount as the hours passed. It was the odor of life and death excitement excreting from their bodies as part of the rush they were experiencing.

The herd was grazing, except for the head bull, who frequently would lower and raise his head in between grazes, to survey his turf for other buffalo, men, or hunters, lions, and/or other predators.

I am sure that Laban's past experiences on the farm with bulls gave him an edge that Charlie did not have. This advantage is critical in the story. Charlie had no experience with bulls anywhere--America or Africa. Laban, Toma, and the chief knew that they must find the right approach and make sure they were down wind due to the fact that the buffalo could chase them for 2 miles or more than 2 miles at a speed of maybe 25 or 30 miles an hour, especially in his own defense as well as the defense of his herd and his harem. Hunters have been known to have been tracked down as far as 2 miles unbeknown to the hunter, gored, and trampled to death. The buffalo is a terrible foe, not to be underestimated in his speed, his ability to smell, his determination to clear his territory of any invaders, and his relentless revenge to any and all who intrude or menace him and his herd.

Dad and Toma looked for the mid point of down wind. They wanted to be in the middle. The young hunters were by this time totally excited because the "mundele" or white doctor was here with his guns, which meant they were going to eat well today with food enough for their families. The best part to the chief and his men were the innards, the head, the feet and any other beef parts they could get. Remember, there were also some hungry missionaries waiting. I am sure that Marcella, Laban's wife, knew some of the danger Laban could face. She was probably imagining every step Laban took and undoubtedly frequently prayed regarding this hunt, probably up to 2 hours' distance from her by this time. This is not hunting antelope. This is hunting cape buffalo.

One of the young hunters spotted a "mata", which is a fruit of the plains, reached down and grabbed it. An older hunter said, "Ah! this is not the time for that! Keep your eyes ahead." The herd was still grazing mostly and staying in one place.

Dad and Charlie were sizing up their guns, checking to see if the safety latch was on. Laban would be sure. Quietly, but quickly, they marched through the grass, crouching when needed, and drew a little closer They noted the easy wind blowing across the waist-high golden grass of the plains, waving in and out of the area. The first spotting took place at about half a mile. The chief knew how to approach, so they followed his lead as well as Toma's lead. Dad had learned that for the most part the tracking part of the hunt would be left to Toma. Tracking meant gluing their eyes on them and walking closer and closer, all the while fastening their eyes to the bull to make sure he was not agitated for any other reason.

Now, a quarter of a mile away from the buffalo, one has to be sure that way back when, when you first got out of the truck you took care of any urgency to use the bathroom, which in Congo would have been the tall grass! Too late now to tend to those details!

The buffalo were becoing larger and larger the closer they came to them. Even the chief was a little hesitant to keep going. Charlie was really getting anxious, even overanxious to get on with the hunt. The impending danger of this hunt was consuming him. And I am sure that Dad's mind was pressing in on him with the mounting thrill of confronting these beasts.

At a quarter of a mile, Charlie began to express that the time was getting right to take the first shot. Looking down on the herd, there were several little rises or knolls in the plains. Dad, Charlie, the chief, and his hunters were also in the plains, not secluded from the view of the buffalo, but crouching.

An eighth of a mile from the buffalo was a forest, not a jungle. The Panzi and the Kajiji area had many such forests. The forest was a mile in circumference. It was a good place to hide. This forest was an eighth of a mile from the buffalo, not the men--a forest to which they could run.

Charlie was ready to fire. But Dad said, "No, not yet." Everybody was dripping with excitement. Thoughts like, "What if we miss?" kept running through the mind, especially Charlie's. Dad knew that the danger in all of this heightened if a buffalo were wounded and not killed. Laban knew that a buffalo hunt had to be one shot. The first shot needs to bring that buffalo down, off its feet and, in fact DEAD. You don't hunt buffalo with even the thought of more than one shot. You must be close enough so that the first shot brings him down and kills him. But Charlie's fears were taking over. When they got up to within 600 feet, Charlie felt that this was close enough. Laban refused as well as Toma warned Charlie that 600 feet away was too far. Dad knew that you do not attempt to kill a bull from 600 feet away.

It is at points like this that hunters must be careful when they have someone with them who is unexperienced and does not realize how close you must be before firing that shot. Guns go off, and damage is done. Excitement can overrule the inexperienced hunter, resulting in even death.

When they got to 400 feet away, Charlie lost control of his reasoning abilities. He felt he was close enough. Even though Dad and Toma insisted on getting within 200 feet of the buffalo, Charlie refused to listen. This was enough for Charlie. He took his 30-6 gun and kneeling on the ground on one knee, he aimed at the big bull, and fired!

Oops! Dinner time. Be back soon!