Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-10-15

the wllds Of Africa, have recently been
published, and are full OF thrilling interest.
HIS experience in eIephsnt-hunting was
very extensive, and his observations con-
WINGED him that this animal, ssgac,ous as
he is. is very far from being the harmless
creature which most people suppose him to
be even when hunted IN q wild state. In
one of his papers Anderson says:
That in countries where he is left
altogether undisturbed, he is peacefully
inclined. not only towards the brute orea
tioB, but to mankind, can readily be-
lleve; but in those where he is subject to
molestation, he can hardly be said to re
tain his innocuousness, as instances innu-
merable are on record, both in Africa
and elsewhere, of his attacking travellers
and Others who have not offended him in
any way. But whether or not the elephant
is the harmless creature he is represented
by many, certain it is that to the sports
man he is the most formidable Of all the
beasts, the lion not excepted, that roam
the African wilds. The lite of the pro-
fessed elaphant hunter is one of great
peril and privation, and there are few who
engage in it that do not, sooner or later,
20 to the wall I'll was surprised to hear
D. say So writes Mr.. Rose, that it
was his wish to leave his present life, and
to settle down quietly on his farm. In
Decd l said, L should have thought
that this wild pursuit, and your former
dangerous trade that of smuggler)
would render a quiet life somewhat sleepy
have a wife now, and shall have chill
dren,' he replied, and have been driven
to this by debt and necessity. | have
nearly got over my difficulties, for, in
twenty months. and my Hottentots have
killed eight hundred elephants; four hun
dred of them have fallen by this good gun
and when l am free quit it. Scores o'
times have tie elephants charged round
me, even within yard of the bush under
which I had crept, and feel that it was
chance that was not crushed. Once
had fired at large troop in deep ravine
QUE side of which was formed by a steep
cliff, which echoed back the sound of the
firing, and hundred elephants with up
raised ears, and loud screams, and tossing
| trunks, rushed down the narrow pass, and
charged the echo, being the opposite side
to that where we stood when We fired, anc
the one to which we had now moved my
self and Hottentots lying in the bush
whilst they rushed past US. The boldes'
hunter is killed at last. When pursued
by rhinoceros l have sprung down {
high bank, not knowing its depth, o.
whether | might not fall on a rock o.
stump. No, sir it is a life of no common
hardship and danger. | have been oblIget
to eat the veldtschoon (untaned leather
shoes) from my feet
the daring of some Of these elephant
hunters almost exceeds credencc. Oae o
the most remarkable instances on record i
that gwen by Thompson, on the authorit,
OF relative of the hero of the story,
man named Marie, fam,us Nimrod. who
in his day, had slain upwards Of forty o
these animals. At cornwall meeting O
friends and neighboSs to celebrate Ne'
Years Day, when the company we're heate
with liquor, aud each one had boastingl
related deeds of hardihood he h,mself ha,
performed, Marie laid wager that b
would 90 into the forest. and pluck thre
hairs from out of the tail of = living ele
phant! This extraordinary feat he ac'
ually performed, and returned safely wit
the trophy to his comrades. But no
satisfied with this specimen of his audacity
he la,d another bet that he would retur
and shoot the same animal on the instant
He went accordingly with bis might
Roer,' but never came back again. h
had approached too incautiously, and b
first shot not prov ing effective, the enrae
ed creature rushed upon him before
could reload or make his escape. and has
ing thrust its tremendous tusk throug
the poor fellows body, trampled him to
!, cake"