The Hillsborough recorder., 1877-08-22
MY FIRST ELEPHANT.
Hunting Great came in africa.

Some years ago, says traveller, In my
first hunting trip in Africa, had been
tramping about for days through the hot
sands. which seemed to moisten as |
walked; and at last, wearic,i out, we cam
ped down for the night close to pool !
was in the land of dreams, and back in
England, when WAS awakened by one
l-ofmy Katiirs, and, sitting up, there was
about the strangest noise Of wailowing,
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 y @ @* T..
ELEPHANTS my boy whispered.
And we lay listening, without the
slightest desire to 60 and attack them in
the dark; all,l at last, all becoming silent,
| dropped again into tllat sound sleep
enjoyed by the tired man.
Tho aext morning. an seeking the
nearest pool, the first glance convinced us
that our cars had not played Us false in
the night, for there, deeply impressed in
tile 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 tight, and, after drinking
and splasliing about in all the pools, had
gone out into thelo hills on the left; so,
putting my Lest spooring Kailir OIL the
track, We lost 10 time III starting in pur~
suit. .
The troop, Ms well us could be judged,
consisted of about ten or twelve bulls,
among them three or four regular old
teasers, with footpiuts nearly two feet in
diameter. '"s~s
After following their spoor for about
couple of hours across asOrt Of easy
country, it led us Ia some much higher
and more rugged hills, aud here they had
ceased to feed and taken Ia an old path,
stepping IL out at brisk pace IN single
file. '
After following the spoor for about
another hour along this path, 1t once
more left il and struck Off again in the
old direction across the hills, and, just
here getting among lot Of yesterdays
tracks, We had great ,iifficulty,in follow
ing il; but ut length my boy, with the
sagacity aud perseverance of "a hnund'
ferre,ed it out, and away We went again.
About eleven o'clock we got into a
patch of very thick, scrubby (wliat the
Kaflirs call 'Idoror bush) IN deep kloof
between the hills, aud here We went along
with great care aud caution, expecting
every instant 10 see the elephants, as /
made sITe they would not passa place SD
favorable for their midday siesta; however,
they went clean out Of here, and up the
steep hill on the other side. Arrived at
the top, we looked down upon large
kluof, inclosed on all sides with steep
thicker gieat deal than we had Just
come through; and rs looked felt sure
my friends were sleeping not many hun
drcd yards of.
At this instant, glaneing to the right,
perceived elephants cunning dowh the side
Of hill a little on ahead tmy hoy after
ward claimed to have headed these, aud
turned them hack toward the Valley; 50
ran to intcrceD, them.
was just III time, and as they passed
In front of me, aud not any more than
forty yards distance, In single file, gave
the last one The having the finest ivory a.
shot IN the middle Of tile shoulder, but a
few inches too high; however, IL slackened
his speed considerably, aud lie left the
Others. Quickly reloaaiing, followed,
and getting 10 where the brush was u
little more open, shouted behind him:
Hi, there woho, old man y and fatal
curiosity, or, perhaps, \ wish for VEN
geancc, inducing him 10 turn, ] planted
another fOur.onncc ball In his chest. He
wheeled around immediately, but strength
failed him, he only walk ell a fcw yards,
sIDod midcra tree. aud after receiving
another bullet square or the shoulder his
huge cars llap again aud sinking slOwly
down, with his hind legs doubled Oni,
surrendered up his tough old spirit,
ionking, foI all the world though dead,
like lame elephant when keeling for
people TO ascend the liowdah.
s. s<ssssysssssss sss~ssss sss
STRoNd. "A Colorado saloon keeper
said u rough crowd: 4 eouldn't get their
whisky strong enough for tbcm; -. after
trying every way, ! at last mado mixture