The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-12
An Elephant Hunt In Sunntrn.

experienced desire to visit an island which
promise 80 many mountains and marvcls to
my imagination.
So, when landed on the southwest coast
| OF the island, was cnamored with the
beauty OF the climate, that | had not cou-
rage 20 find it too warm. And yet my thcr-
, momctcr marked in tho shade thirty seven
Gently grade degrees We were in June,
iS4o, precisely at the period when it was
warm also IN the streets of Paris. I may
nc permitted to prefer the fires of Bengal
to those Of cannon. Not that Sumatra has
never enjoyed revolutions this beautiful
country, like so many others, has had her
own, but they arc not the principal merit
of this island, neither does this lie in its
productions, which rival those of the tro-
pics; II is, dare avow it, almost entirely
in its elephants, its most ancient as well as
its most legitimate sovereigns. Their
strength is disputed by no one, and their
deeds, ii not words, are in every mouth.
In order to judge of them, one must sec
them On their own territory, through the
large trees Of the forest, and in the free
exercise Of their powers, soon had an
opportunity of observing; III an exciting
hunt IN the company with the Marquis and
Marchiones' do Ficnuc, amiable Parisans,
whom affairs Of interest had brought to
Sumatra. There was third person,
French jew, a banker Of profession, MIR.
Isaac du Laurcns, friend of the marquis.
A great lover of hunting, still more intre-
pid poastcr, there was no trophy Of this
Kind to which ho could not offer you
counterpart Such were the members of our
expedition. We were Joined by some ma
tive chiefs as guides, and q great number
OF Indians, laden with munition and arms,
or leading packs Of dogs impatient to enter
upon the campaign. The rendezvous was
fixed beyond great lake which separated
us from the forest, where, according to the
Indians, tho elephants were in tho habit Of
coming their for their sports Arrived on
the opposite shore of the lake, we left our
p''ahOuS "a species Of pirogues), and re-
pared TO tho spot where, according to the
latest adviccs, we were to find the clcph-
ants. We advanced rcsolutcly, NJ. dc
flenne, tho marclioncss and myself, having
besides us the native chiefs, and NJ. du
Laurcns-bchind us.
very soon the sight Of giant tracks COM
municatcd the first emotion TO the beatcrs;
the effect was electric; Bl. du Laurcns
turncd pale. Each took his post behind an
ambush of canes which had been raised
against the stays. The corner which VIC
occupied was not less than two or three
feet wide; 80 all the hunters could, thanks
TO tho underwood, hido there comfortably.
they inspected their guns and carbincs
tho hunting knife, the ktc,Uang and the
lances CLEANED. All was the most lively
anxiety.
Already the hri0s were sent to give tho
alarm TO our aids and their packs of dogs
and scarcely had the Indians advanced,
from the center Of tic forest Hi and rose us
with terror. 1t seemed to me rs if hurri-
cane had passed through the foliagc. There
was no room for doubt, herd OF elephants
were there, i'll the inclosurc, at few PAGES
from us. There was an instant of panic
terror. The ideas which we had, and with
reason, Of the extraordinary strength of
these animals, who could overthrow every
thing in their passage, little disposed the
men TO await them with firm foot. The
hunters therefore disbandcd. Though native
Chiefs, more experienced, in vain retained
their courage, the confusion rcdoublcd,
and most of the Indians fled toward the
lake.
Unfortunately, the lake Is full of cay
mans, and the cry arose: Bgaja! bteaja!
They knew not which way to flee; on all
sides they saw themselves surrounded with
monsters. Several had climbed the trees
NJ du Laurcns was of the number.
The sight of this lnsensatc fear restored
our courage, and we regaincd our post with
the greatest GOODNESS. When say our cou-'
rage, it is a plural which is singular and
regards only myself, for NJ dc Fenne had
not shrunk for an instant. The marchio-
ness, firm also, yet betrayed the most live
ly emotion. She was impatient to sec the
conflict commence, and prepared, not only
to be spectator of this drama, but to play
part in it.
Suddenly thirty elephants issued from the
forest, arranged in close columns, and adj
vancing with majcctic uir. They were
formidable to behold; they marched with
their trunks high and threatening, like
wounded serpent; their large cars beat their
temples with 'rcdoublcd blows; their breath
would have ovcrthrown man, and the
ground seemed to trcmblc beneath them.
The moment was critical and there was
not a moment to lose if we did not wish to
be destroyed. When they were four or five
PAGES from the thickct, which concealed us
from their view, we received them with
close fire from our carbines, which we had
taken care to load with balls of tin and cop
per. Woe to us if we had used leaden
balls, they would have been hattencd by
the large cars of the elephants, and have
rendered them more trouble to US, without
having tho chance of killing one. "Near
the ears! near the carsl" was the exclama-
ton on all sides, and each one suddenly re-
turned to the charge, aiming at the scnsi-
tive spot which made at first more noise
than they did harm.
Meanwhile the monsters, seized with ter
ror, recoilcd and rctook the road to the for
est; but the barking of the dogs, which did
not bite, constrained them to turn back al
most Immediately. Their numbers had in
creased to sixty; great part Of these ami
mails had not come out from the woods at
the first attack. y ~
We had had time to charge anew our
guns and carbines and, more assured, like
soldiers after the first fire, we received the
anemy In more vigorous manner than at
first. The elephants then disbandcd with a
| terror mingled with fury, crushing every