The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-06-24
From The Journal Of C mmerce.I


Two letters have been received from Mr.. Charles
John ANDERSON, the African traveller. In the first,
which is dated "August 30, 1885," he says
u encountered very considerable number of
elephants, but unfortunately chiefly cows with their
young, which are both dangerous and uuprofitable
have had some perilous adventures with these an
lmals, and have been taught some severe lessons
which am not likely to forget, and if | have not
got great deal of ivory, | have gained a great
deal OF experience and interesting insight into
the natural history of the African elephant. How
ever, besides some female elephants | have killed
several truly noble bulls.
'The more see of these stupendous animals the
more am surprised. | should very much like to
know the real strength of full grown male; it
must be something almost incredible. Nothing
gives person a better idea of their stupendous
powers than DAVIS walk through one of their
tavorite haunts. There may be seen whole tracts
OF forest laid prostrate and such trees sometimes
The trees, which are for the most part of a brittle
nature, are usually broken short off by the beasts;
but when they meet with tree that seems to them
TOO tough to snap at once, up it goes root and ALL
III they cam do this in mere play, for the sake
OF ieeding on the branches. &c. of the PROSTATE
trees, what will they not effect in paroxysm of
rage?
''Ihe other day, after very many hours fatiguing
tracking, | was closing with very large troop of
elephants, consisting chiefly of females when to nv
lett suddenly espied another troop of what took
to be males. at left the first troop and pro-
ceeded to attack the second. | 'staIked' unper-
celved to within twenty-five PAGES of the herd
when to my annoyance found that they also were
mostly cows and calves. There were however n
couple of fine bulls among them-one evidently
acting the part of paterlamilas to the herd; this
beasts position was unfayorabe, and was wait
ing for him to present better mark, when sudden
ly they all made off, As they were idisappearinp
in the brushwood | fired at one of the hindermost
"a male, as | imagined. In an instant the herd
wheeled about and with terrific rush came crash
ing through the bushes nearly in a direct line to-
wards me; put after running for about 60 or 20
stOpnn1 avid L.
not hnding the enemy. | felt verv much inclined
to take to my heels, but moments reflection con-
WINGED me that safety lay only in keeping close and
IL was well did so, for in few moments the pater-
iamllIas made an Obque rush through the Jungle
with such force as actually to send whole tree
that he had uprooted in his headong course spin.
ming in the air. huge branch remained fixed to
one OF his tusks. His head he carried aloft, his
huge ears were spread to the full, while with his
trunk he snifled the air mpatientlv In this posi-
ton, and when within less than a dozen PAGES of
me, he remained should say, about half a minute.
think 1t was the most striking and thrilling sport
ing scene that ever saw; my assailant looked the
very picture of grandeur and rage
81 have had several other Interesting encounters
with elephants but have no time for PARTICULARS
At present these animals have all left my neigh
borhoOd, but / hope to find them again ahead of
me, and to do some execution among them
81 use heavy rife, carrying a cOnical steel
pointed bullet (three to the pound and 10 to II
drachms of the best English rife powder. With
this charge J sometimes send the ball clean
through an elephant. Once fired at huge COW,
the bullet entered her hind quarters, and oblquely
traversing the entire length of her body passed out
at the shoulder The only objection have to the
gun is that its kicks frghtfully and dare not now
fire it without previously placing thick wad on
my shoulder. 1t is by Powell, the maker of nv old
rifle, mentioned in Luke Nyami, with which Killed
a vast quantity of game.
"Besides elephants, have also shot many giraffes
Glands, gnoos, hartebeests, koodoos, and indeed,
had wished to kill merely for Killings sake.
might have shown first-rate "bag;" but make
point OF not destroying unless absolutely in want
of meat to feed either my own party or the hun
dreds OF poor wrelches constantly following in my
track.
Mr. Andersson's second letter is dated, ''The In
terror, Lake 0manboude, zen route r. Cunenel, Oc-
tober %, 1853" He says:
"l on will perceive this letter is dated Oman
boude, the spot where Mr.. Cations magnificent
lake proved to be mere dried up 'vley 1t is
now, however, something better for the wafer
notwithstanding the lateness and dryness of the
season, is about four and half mes-a large ex-
panse of water for this miserable country 1t is not
lake, moreover, nor even 'tarn,' bat may not
inappropriately be termed an immense marsh
There is no hippopotami in it, however, though
plenty of room for score two.
'But elephants until quite late have largely re-
sorted here, and with some considerable danger,
fatigue and patience have succeeded in sbapoino'
a number of splendid bulls some of which carried
magnificent tusks. have had the most extraordi-
nary run of bad luck well as of good luck At
first lost every elephant that fired at, but all at
the tables were turned in nv favor and
have lately killed eight bulls without losing sim
gle one. The other day. indeed, brought down
two at two successive shots.
"But elephanthunting on foot at this hot season
of the year is tremendous work. 1t is rarely that
can succeed in tracking, stalking and killing my
elephant, and return to camp in less than hours
and more frequently it takes II, IA, or even 16
hours to accomplish the feat. of course, it would
be nothing in temperate climate but here where
/ Qraupht al heata cd
furnace it is most trying to IL constitution. So
severe is the labor, indeed, THAI | am obliged to
divide my native attendants into wo SETS making
use ot one set the one day, and th other the next
Elephant hunting on foot is ,lso exceedingly
dangerous work The fact is, es nv time 90 in
search of these animals, consider ny life in peril
1t was only few days ago, that - vas suddenly
and unexpectedly charged by an eleph, It and that
by one not previously wounded Be re | was
aware of the brute he was so close upo, me that
found escape by running impossible. Poor Wah-
berg's sad fate flashed across my mind. However,
as good luck would have it, broke one of his fore
legs, which at once brought him to his head. He
was not over three times the length of my rife
from when he thus fell. But this is only one of
many hair breadth escapes that might be mentioned.
81 have also had some dangerous encounters
with other animals. One fine moonlight night,
while watching for elephants, | encountered
troop of lions, and without kind of molestation
on my part was suddenly attacked by the leader,
magnificent male. Fortunately well directed bull
let from my elephant rifle put him at once hors de
combat. The next morning finished him under
very exciting circumstances. 1t so happened that
my party was accompanied by large trading car
avan, composed of Damarras, destined for Dram
boland, and the scene occurred in full view of
my camp nearly the whole of the people were in
at the death of the lion. More than 200 iavelins
poised in the air at the same moment ready
to strike the PROSTATE beast, while dozen dogs
were desperately tearing away at him. The lion
defended himself bravely, and in his death strug-
giles severely wounded three of my best dogs. 1t
was most imposing scene.