The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-07-12

difficult to determine. They were all warm
ed not to run against the wind; and the di-
rection Of the house was pointed OUT, as we'll
as circumstances would allow; but while
they were debating the matter, the dogs
ran in among the young elephants; they set
up deafenng yell, and made directly to-
wards the party, some of whom lay down
by the path, with the hope of seizing the
smallest calf, but they were very glad to
make their escape as they discovered it to
be larger than they expected. The bull ell
ephant, called back by the cry of his young,
again appeared, but totally different in as
quicker, his eyes fierce, his trunk elevated,
and his head appeared three times the size,
NV friend called to the Hottentot to look,
and he Immediately replied in broken Eng
lish, Eyes, Mynheer, dat is dc elephant will
make mems dead" The alarm was extreme,
but while the animal stood hesitating, the
cry Of the young sounded from distant quar-
ter, and the enraged father tosk the short
est cut towards them, crushing the branches
as he stalked along; and the party thus most
providentially escaped. 1t was ascertained
that the elephant had made off towards the
sea.
They went up to the dead elephant, mere
ly to examine it; tor the Hottentots leave
the tusks till the flesh becomes softened, as
it would take up too much time to separate
them. One of these men took cut his knife,
and cut circular piece off the head, about
an inch deep; he then pointed out dark spot
similar to what is called the kernal in beef,
this he probed with his knife, and brought
out small part of tz9ig, but it was broken.
| He distributed little piece as great favor
then carefully wrapt the remainder up, as
they have an idea that whoever wears it.
can never be killed by an elephant, and this
valuable charm was transferred by my
friend TO me. 1t is remarkable that no nat
uralist has ever noticed this circumstance
There is no outward appearance. and it is
impossible to imagine how it becomes enc
closed, CT of what use it is to the animal.
They set off, party of fourteen in num-
her, and found upwards Of three score ele-
plants encamped on the banks of the Kou-
nap river. 1t was late when the party are
rived, therefore an attempt would have
been useless and dangerous. Large fires
were lighted to keep off lions as we'll as ele-
phants. and the party being much fatigueds
they lay down and slept.
The elephants awokc them early with
breaking and pulling up trees by the roots,
and rolling themselves in the wa
ter, &c. The party Immediately pressed
for the attack, and now commenced the
sport. The elephants, upon receiving the
first shot as ifby mutual consent, gave chase
though not tor above six or seven hundred
yards. This answered the desired effect.
One of the party galloped between the ele
plants and the bush, which they had just left
commencing, at the same time, heavy fire.
which harrassed them to such degree, that
they fed 10 the plains, leaving behind them
thick cover, in which they might have been
perfectly secure from the shots. On those
| plains great numbers of small bushes are
! found at no great distance from each other,
50 that il one party consents to drive the ell
ephant out of one bush, the other will con-
ceal themselves, and by this means may &c.
some good shots.
One large bull elephant stationed himself
| in the middle of one of these small bushes;
and at least two hundred rounds were fred
without being able to bring him down. or
make him move form the place in which he
had stationed himself. At every shot he
received he was supposed to blow quantity
Of water into the wound, and then tear up q
large lump of earth to endeavor to stop the
blood. The CATERS do the same thing when
they have been shot-that is, tear up hand
full ofgrass and thurst it into the wounded
place; and it is thought they have learnt this
from seeing the elephants do it.-At length
the great bull dropped. The party then en-
tered the bush, and to their great surprise,
| found that the reason he would not leave
this spot, was, that he had there found
pool of water, with which he had been was
ing his wounds. His height measured sew
enteen feet and three quarters. and his
teeth weighed one hundred and ninety
pounds. Before the days sport was ever
they had killed thirteen.