The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-06-24
From the Journal of C. uouerce !

Two letters have been received from Mr.. Charles
John Anderson, the African traveller. In the first,
which is dated august 3d. 1885," he SAYS:
81 encountered a very considerable number of
elephants, but unfortunately chiefly cows with their
young, which are both dangerous and Improbable
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 a great deal of ivory, | have gained great
deal of experience and some 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 a full grown male; it
must be something almost incredible. Nothing
gives person better idea of their stupendous
powers than a davis walk through one of their
tavorte haunts There may be seen whole tracts
of forest laid prostrate and such trees sometimes
The trees, which 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
Ii they can do this in mere play, or for the sake
of feeding on the branches. DC, of the PROSTATE
trees, what will they not effect in a paroxysm of
rage?
''The other day, after very many hours fatiguine
tracking | closing with a very large troop of
elephants, consisting chiefly of females when to my
left suddenly espied another troop Of what | took
to be males at once left the first troop and pro-
ceeded to attack the second. | 'stalked' upper
ceived to within twenty-five PAGES of the herd,
when to my annoyance | found that they also were
mostly cows and calves. There were, however, a
couple of fine bulls among them-one evidently
acting the part of paterfamlias to the herd; this
beasts position was unayOrable, and was wait
ing for him to present better mark, when sudden
ly they all made off. AS they were disappearing
in the brushwood | tired at one of the hindermost
"a male, as l imagined. In instant the herd
wheeled about, and with terrific rush came crash
ing through the bushes nearly in a direct line to-
wards me; but after running for about 60 or 10
PAGES they stopped short, evidently disappointed at
not hndlng the enemy. felt very much inclined
to take to my heels, but moments reflection con-
WINGED me that safety lay only in keeping closes and
it was well did so, for in few moments the pater-
famlias made an oblique rush through the jungle
with such force as actually to send a whole tree
that he had uprOoted in his headlong course spin.
ming in the air. huge branch remained fixed to
one of his tusks. His head he carried aoft, his
huge ears were spread to the full, while with his
trunk he smiled the air impatientlv In this posi-
ton, and when within less than 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.
al 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 rifle, carrying a cOncal steel
pointed bullet (three to the pound and 10 to l.
drachms of the best English rife powder. With
this charge ] sometimes send the ball clean
through an elephant. Once fired at a huge COW
the bullet entered her hind quarters, and obiquey
traversing the entire length of her body passed
at the shoulder The only objection have to the
gun is that its kicks frghttully, and dare not now
fire it without previously placing thick wad on
my shoulder. 1t is by Powell, the maker of nv old
rife, mentioned in Lake Nyami, with which killed
a vast quantity of game.
"Besdes 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 wretches constantly following in my
track.
Mr.. Andersson's second letter is dated s'The In
terror Lake Omanboude, EN- route X. Cunene), Dc
tober %, 1858" He says:
"Iou will perceive this letter is dated Oman
boude, the spot where Mr. Cations magnificent
lake proved to be dried up 'vley.' 1t is
now, however, something better, for the water
notwithstanding the lateness and dryness of the
season, is about four and a half miles-a large ex-
panse of water for this miserable country. 1t is moi
lake, moreover, nor even 'tarn,' bat may not
appropriately be termed immense marsh
There is no hippopotami in it, however, though
plenty of room for a score or two.
'But elephants until quite late have largely re-
sorted here, and with some considerable danger,
fatigue and patience, have succeeded in 'bagging
a number of splendid bulls, some of which carried
magnificent tusks have had the most extraordi-
nary run OF DaQ luck as well as OF good luck. At
first lost every elephant that fired at but all at
once the tables were turned in my favor, and
have lately killed eight bulls without losing sin
gle one. The other day, indeed, brought down
two at two successive shots.
" But eephant-hunting 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 ten hours
and more frequently it takes u, H. or even lt
hours to accomplish the feat. OF course, it would
be nothing in temperate climate; but here, where
the air is like the draught of a strongly heated
furnace, it is most trying to the constitution Sc
severe is the labor indeed, that | am obliged tC
divide my native attendants into two sets, making
of one set the day, and the other, the next
Elephant hunting foot is also exceedingly
dangerous work. The fact is every time | go il
search OF these animals, consider my life in peril
| 1t was only few DAYS ago. that | was suddenl,
and unexpectedly charged by an elephant, and tina
| by one not previously wounded. Before l wa:
aware of the brute he was so close upon me that
found escape by running impossible. Poor VAIL
| berg's sad fate flashed across nv 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 rift
from me when he thus fell. But this is only one o
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 any kind of molestatol
on my part was suddenly attacked by the leader,
magnificent male. Fortunately well directed bul
| let from my elephant rifle put him at once hOrs d
combat. The next morning finished him unde
very exciting circumstances. 1t so happened tina
my party accompanied by large trading car
AVIAN, composed of Damarras, destined for Dram
| poland, and the scene occurred in full view c
my camp, nearly the whole of the people were i
at the death of the lion More than 200 javen
were poised in the air at the same moment, read
to strike the PROSTATE beast, while a dozen dog
were desperately tearing away at him. The lilo
defended himself bravely, and in his death strua
| giles severely wounded three of my best dogs. /
was a most imposing