The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1875-04-10
Tickling an Elephant.

View travelling through UkonOngo,
and had reached Sultan Afrcra's village,
when kiscsn asked me to go to the forest
along the river to look for game, adding
that If | brought Kudu antelope to the
cnmp lie would give me four yards Of
cotton cloth.
After good breakfast of rice and
curry, which kiscSa sent mo from his ta-
Die to make me strong, l started. 1t was
then noon, and the sun was very hot,
though once in the forest il would be cool
enough. In a short time was hy the
river, II crooked little stream of delicious
and clear water. 1.walked along, look.
ing to the right md left constantly for
hours, when just about two hours before
sunset, | heard hollow sound, us though
the earth was shaking; but knew after
listening, that the sound was caused by a
herd of elephants walking in file along
the hard-bakCd road, and that they were
approaching the stream.
In moment was down OH my face
like dcnd man. The grass was about
two feet high, and very thick, SO that
was quiz" safe, if did not stir, and | nm
too ola hunter not to know what to do
in the ncighbOrhood Of elephants. As
the elephants passed by lifted my head
up cautiously, and counted them. Two
-inur-siN-cight-t enormous beasts,
who tossed their trunks alOft, ms if they
were masters of the forest, and knew it.
Careless and confident, they passed OH,
and | wrigglCd out until was some dis
tancc away; then jumped up and lcnpcd
across the stream, and on nll fuurs CrCpt
across deep bend of il; then lying fiat
along the ground moved forward towards
u great tree, II baObab, that stood between
me and them. II tho elephants had all
stood in row drinking from the river
could never have come up to them unseen,
but ono grcclily thirsty fellow was stand
ing in the middle nf the stream, almost
touching the ba0bab tree with his side, so
TINT he completely hid mc from tho others.
| thought Tint Kiscsa, though lie had
not told me to shoot elephants, would not
mind my bringing him two great ivory
tusks, which would be worth ut Zanzibar
500 dollars, since hc had come TO Uko.
nongO TO get ivory, and that if he gave
INC four yards of cloth for Kudu ante.
lopc, that he would give many more yards
of cloth for 500 dollars worth of ivory.
This thought gave me confidence to
proceed, and impcrCCptibly was drawing
nearer and nearer TO tho monster near the
| haobab. After few minutes, which
seemed to INC To bc hours, | was lifting
myself to my feet, girclling my loins
| tighter, md preparing myself for run
for life. But just at the moment Gught
Ia have fired, miscbicvOus ilca cNinc
into my head; the hind quarters Of the
brute were ~ close 10 INC that Thought
It would he great fun, and good story
tn tell afterwards If ticklcd the bruto's
tail. Cutting long straw, | extended
the point towards the tail, nnd then traced
n limo across tho leg to the belly. II wa
delicious to watch the furry of the short
tail aud the circles il described, and &c
watch the brute half leaning against The
tree, and rubbing IL with his pundcrou,
form. When this play Ind lasted slIor
time, brought down my gun, and point
ing II about three inches or 40 behind Tho
left forclrg, on level with tho position
Of the beast, fired. The elephant spranl
forward, mud by doing so disclosed to IT,,
nstonishcd eyes of tho others my retreat
ing fnrm, which, assure you, WIS bound
ing over the low bushes md grass tops N
if were nm antelope.
The elephants got over their surprise il
n second, then wild snort of rag
greeted my cars, and knew by tho crasl
Of bushes and splash Of water that the.
were aftor mo. Never mn antelope bound