The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-08-10
NY FIRST ELEPHANT.
Hunting Grea, Game in .5frica.

Hunting Great Game iTt -3Irtcd.
Some years ago, says traveller, in my
first hunting trip in Africa, | had been
trampiDg about for days through the hot
sands, which seemed to moisten as l
walked and at last, wearied cut, We
camped down for the night close to
pool. | was in the land of dreams, and
back in England, when ! was awakened
by one of my Kafirs, al, sitting up
there was about the stIangest noise oil
wallowing, shouting and trumpeting
ever heard. 1t was for all the world as
if some great beasts were playing with
the water, and kept saying 'PomP
"Elephats," my boy whispered.
And we lay listening, 1 without the
slightest desire to go and attack them in
the dark; and at last, all becoming silent,
l dropped again into that sound sleep
enjoyed by the tired man.
The next morning, on seeking the
nearest pool, the first glance convinced
us that our ears had not played us false
in the night, for there, deeply impressed
in the soft mud, lay the giant footprints
of seven splendid bulls.
A careful survey round about soon
showed us that they had come down the
valley to the right, and, after drinking
and splashing about in all the pOsls, had
gone out into the low hills on the lett
so, putting my best spooripg Kafir on
the track, We lost no time in starting IL
pursuit.
The troop, as well as co~ld be judged
consisted of about ten or twelve bulls
among them three or four regular old
teasers, with footprints nearly two ieei
in diameter.
After following their spoor for about ;
couple of hours across a sort of eas!
country, it led as to some much highe
and more rugged hills, and here they ha'
ceased to teed and taken to an old path
stepping it out at brisk pace in singh
file.
After following the HPOor for abou
another hour along this path, it one
more left it and struck off again in tn
old direction across the hills, and, jus
here getting among a lot of yesterday
tracks, we had great difficulty in follow
ing it; but at length my boy, with tn
ssgacity and perseverance of a hounC
ferreted it out, and away we went agar
About eleven O'Clock we got into
patch of very thick, scrubby (what tn
Kaffirs call ''Idoro" bush), in a dee
kloot between the hills, and here we wei
along with great care and caution, e.
pecting every instant to see the elephant
as 1 made sure they would not pass
place so favorable for their midday siests
however, they went clean out OF her
and up the steep hill on the other sid
Arrived at the top, we looked down upC
large kloof, inclosed on all sides Wi
steep hills, and covered with dense bus
thicker a great deal than we had ju
come through and as l looked l fe
sure my friends were sleeping not mar
hundred yards off.
At this instant, glanciRg to the RICH
l perceived elephants coming down t
side of hill a little on ahead (my b
afterward claimed to have headed the:
and turned them back toward the valley
so ran to intercept them.
was just in time, and as they pass
in front of me, not any more than for
yards distance, in single file, l gave t
last one Che having the finest ivory
shot in the middle of the shoulder, but
few inches too high however, it slac
ened his speed considerably, and he Il
the others. Quickly reloaGing, l fC
lowed, and getting to where the bru
was a little more open, sh|hted behi
him: eli, there woho, Old man ~ a
fatal curiosity, OF, perhaps, wish for We
geance, inducing him to turn, I plant
another four-ounce ball in his chest. ]
wheeled around Immediately, b
strength failed him, only walked f
yards, stood under a tree, and after
ceiving another bullet square on I
shoulder, gave fierce shake ef the he'
making his huge ears flap again, a
sinking slowly down, with his hind l.
doubled out, surrendered up his tou
old spirit, looking, for all the wor
though dead, like tame elephant VIII
kneeling for people to ascend the no
dab.
.rorRrS0N N.cBSRY