The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-02-11
AN ELEPHANT HUNT.

cut 10y numerous rivulcts. had retired
from the noise to take M observation
among some rocks lamiuated grit, when
bchcld an elephant and her calf at the end
of the valley, about two miles distant. The
calf was rolling in the mud, and the dam
was standing tanning herself with her great
ears. AZ looked II! them through my
glass, | saw Il long string OF my own mcu
appearing on the other side of thcm.-
! then went higher up the side Of the valley,
i'll order to have direct view Of thcirmodc
OF bunting. The goodly beast, totally um-
conscious Of the approach of an enemy,
stood for some time sucking her young one,
which seemed about two years old; they
then went into Il pit containing mud, aud
smearcd themselves all over with it, the
little one frsking about his dam, napping
his cars and tossing his trunk inccssan,Iv, in
clcpl'antinc G.shion. She kept tapping her
ears and wagying her tail, as if in the height
OF her enjoyment. Then began the piping
Of her enemies, which was performed by
blowing into tube, or the hands close to-
ge,'cr, as boys do into key. Both ani-
mails expended their cars and listened, then
left their path rs the crowd rushed towards
them. The little one ran forwards towards
the end Of valley, but seeing the men there,
returned to his dam. She placed herself
on the danger side Of her calf, and pass her
rrobocis over it again and again, as if to
assure it of safety. She frequently looked
back ut the men, who kept up an inccssant
shooting, singing, an'! piping; then looked
ut her young one, and ran after it, some
times sideways, as if her feelings were
divided between anxiety to protect her off.
spring, and desire to revenge the tcmcrity
of her prosecutors. The men kept about a
hundred yards in her rear. and that distance
from her tlankS, and continued thus until
she was obliged to cross rivulct. The
time spent in descending and gcttin. to the
opposite bank, allowed Of their coming up
to the edge and discllarging their spears at
about twenty yards distance. After the
first discharge, she appeared with her sides
red with blood, and beginning to flee for her
own life. seemed to think no more of her
young. / had previously sent off Sckwcbu
with orders to spare the calf. 1t went very
fast, but neither young or old ever enter in
to "a gallop; their quickest l,ace is only a
sharp walk. Before Sc!iwcl;, could reach
them the calf sought refuge in the water and
was killed. The pace of the dam gradually
became slower. She tunrcd with Il shrek OF
rage, and made Il furious charge back among
the men. They vanished at right angles to
her course, or sideways, and, as she ran
straight on, she went tlrouy yh the whole par
ty, but came near no one except n man who
wore piece of cloth on his shouldcrs.-
bright clothing is always dangerous in those
cases. She charg d three or four times, and
except in the first instance, never went far
tler than one hundred yards. She often
stood after she had crossed rivulct, and
faced the men, though she received fresh
spears. 1t WAS 10y this process Of spearing
and loss of blo(d that she was killed; for
ut last, making short charge, she staggered
round, and sank down dead in knccIing
posture. l. did not see the whole hunt,
having been tempted away by both s,ln and
moon appearing uncloudcd. turned from
the spectacle Of the destruction of noLIe ami
mails, which might be made so useful in
Africa, with feeling of Sickness and it was
not relieved by the recollection that the
ivory was mine, though that WAS the case.
The elephants Of this region were smaller
than those in n more southern latitude
The one first killed on this OCCASION was a
male, not full grown, measuring eight feet
ut the withers. The otlicr was full grown
female, eight feet eight inches in height,
which was about one foot less than the
average. They are dainty feeders, and
have great relish for certain sweet tasted
trees and fruits. They choose the mohono-
no, the mimiosa, and other trees which con-
tain much sacharine matter, mucilage, and
gum. Au experienced elephant may be
seen putting his head TO lofty palmyra
and swaying it to and fro to shake off the
seeds; lie then picks them up one by one
and cats them. Or he plants himself under
the masuna and other fruit trees, and picks
off the sweet fruits till his appetite is cloyed
lie also digs up bulbs and tubers, bnt they
are loo coarse for his delicate DIGESTION
With his exclusive taste for food which
abounds in mucilage and gum, lie produces
but small effect on the vegetation of a
country.-Lioingston's Africa.
Pretty GoOd.-A very. charming daugh-
ter of one ofthe "solid men of Boston," being
Mt ball few evenings since, was solicited
by combination of moustache starch and
broadcloth, for the honor of her hand in