Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-01-18

events. II that old man was hunlpug,
he was very clever one. What amount
Of truth there was In his pretensions Of
supernatural powcn e is not for me 70
dstermine, though may have my own
opinion on the subject But there was
no mistake as to the extraordinary in
fluence he exercised over his fellow
natives.
When I was at length ready to start
upon my expedition went to old Indaba-
ximbi to say good-by TO him, and was
rather surprised to find him engaged In
rolling up medicine, assegnis, and other
sundries In his blankets.
"Good-by, lndaba-ximbi," said, II
am going to trek north"
eyes, Macumaxahn, he answered, with
his head ON one side; "and 30 am IL
want to zee that country. Wc will 60 to-
gether."
"Will wei" said; "wait till you are
asked, you old humbug."
"You had better ask me, then, Macu-
maxahn, for II you don't you will never
come back alive. Now that the old chief
(my father) IL gone to where the storms
come from, and he nodded to the sky,
II feel myself getting into bnd habits
again. 80 last night just threw up the
bones and worked out about your jour-
ney, and can tell you this, that II you
don't take me you will die, and, what is
moro, you will lose one who is dearer to
you than life."
Now / was no more superstitious than
other people, but somehow old Indaba-
vss 4 L.
extraordinary influence over every class
OF native, and bethought mo that he
might be useful in that way.
"All right" I said; 81 appoint you
witchfinder to the expedition without
pay"
"First serve, then ask for wages" he
answered. II am glad to see that you
have enough imagination not to be alto
gether fool, like most white men, Macu-
mazahn. Yes, yes, it is want Of imag-
ination that makes people fools; they
won't believe what they can't under
stand. You can't understand my prophe-
cies any more than the fool at the kraal
could understand that was his master
with the lightning. Well, it is time to
trek, but il were you, Macumazahn,
should take one wagon, not two."
"Whyw said.
"Because you will lose your wagons,
and 1t is better to lose one than two."
"Oh, nonsenser' said.
"All right, Macumazahn, live and
learn" And without another word he
walked to the foremost wagon, put his
bundle into it, and climbed into the front
seat.
So, having bid an affectionate adieu to
my white friends, at length started, and
travelled slowly northwards. For the first
three weeks nothing very particular be-
fell me. Such Kaffirs as we came in con-
tact with were friendly, and game liter
ally swarmed.
The first real adventure that befell me
on this particular journey was with
elephants, which will relate because Of
its curious termination. Just before we
1 crossed the Orange river we came to a
stretch of forest land some twenty miles
broad. Tho night we entered this forest
we camped in lovely open glade. A
few yards ahead tambouki grass was
growing to the height Of q man, or
rather it had been; now, with the ex-
ception Of n few stalks here and there,
it was crushed quite fat. 1t was already
dusk when we camped; but after the
moon got up walked from the fire to
see how this had happened. One glance
was enough for me; great herd Of ele-
plants had evidently passed over the
tall grass not many hours before. The
sight of their spoer reioiced me exceed
ingly, for though had seen wild ele-
plants, at that time I had never shot
one. Moreover, the sight Of elephant
spoer to the African hunter is what
"color in the pan" is to the prospector OF
gold. 1t is by ivory that he lives, and
to shoot it or trade it is his chief aim in
life. My resolution was soon taken.
would camp the wagons for while in
J the forest, and start on horseback after
the elephants.
, communicated my decision to linda.
ba-zimbi and the other Kaffirs. The lat
hunting, which means plenty of meat
/ and congenial occupation, but Indaba
, zimbi would express no opinion. saw
, him retire to a little fire that he had lii
for himself, and go through some mys
terious performances with bones and
clay mixed with ashes, which were
, watched with the greatest interest by the
: other Kaffirs. At length he rose, and
coming forward, informed me that il
was all right, and that did well to &
and hunt the elephants, as should ge
, plenty Of ivory; but he advised me to &c
on foot. I said should do nothing o.
tho sort, but meant to ride. I am wisel
| now; that was the first and last time tina
, ever attempted to hunt elephants OF
horseback.
y Accordingly, we started at dawn, I
: Indaba-zimbi and three men; the rest
left with the wagons. I was on horse
0 back and 80 was my driver, good ride
and a skillful shot for Kafflr, but In
1 daba-zimbi and the others walked. From
: dawn till midday we followed the trai
| Of the herd, which was as plain as
( high road. Then we off saddled to le
: the horses rest and feed, and about
a o'clock started on again. Another hou
!. or 60 passed, and still there was no sigl
of elephants. Evidently the herd ha'
4 travelled fast and far, and began t.
a think that we should have to give it up
when suddenly l caught sight of /
/, brown mass moving through the thor
5 trees on the side of slope about guar
d ter of mile away. My heart SCENE,
o to jump into my mouth. Where is tn
!, hunter who has not felt like this at tn
:. sight of his first elephant? called
$ halt, and then, the wind being right, W
set to work to stalk the bull.
q Very quietly rode down the hithe
t side of the slope till we came to the bot
r tom, which was densely covered wit
|. bush. Here I saw the elephants ha,
e. Il.