Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1892-06-04
TAKEN BY SURPRISE.
An Elephant Hunters Perilous Ad-
venture in India.


Many OF the British officers Of the
sepoy regiments are mighty n;mrods,
and some of the most exciting and hair
breadth escapes by field and food have
been among their experiences. Some
years ago, among the officers Of a rcgi-
ment of the Royal Bengal infantry, was
Maj. Stcvcnson; a bluff old Scotchman
who paid equal attention to Alsops' or
Bass bottled ale and the pursuit of the
mighty game, with which British Bur-
nah. where he was then stationed,
abounaed. And. although his devotion
to the bottle had rendered him corpu-
lent almost to obesity. he still delighted
US much as ever in hunting, and his
hand was as firm, his aim as true, as
iii his best days. One bright cool
morning in the month Of February, the
most perfect month in all the Burmese
year, the old major was encamped on
the banlls of small tributary of the
great Sitang river, whittier he had
journcyed by boat on one Of his numcr-
ons hunting trips. For some reason
his Hindoo cook was slower than usual
in preparing the majors rice and curry,
and after giving the lazy fellow n ecnu-
inc Scotch blessing, the major con-
c!ndcd to take n light rife and see if he
could not pick up a Jungle fowl for din
ner while his breah fast was cooking.
His camp was under Il huge hanyan
tree, which formed part of the fringe of
jungle, extending for few rods in
width along either side of the little
stream that has been mentioned. Be-
yond this fringe the broad rice or pad
dy" fields stretched away, level as
floor, to steep range of hills several
miles distant The rice had all been
harvested and the plains were bare,
save whore numerous cfuIups OF the
elephant bamboo were dotted over the
Surface. These giant boos are 4
foot or more in diameter at the base,
md frequently tower to n height of
more than one hundred feet, and as
they grow in compact groves, so close
together as to be impcnctrablc to any
thing larger than bird or 4 snake, and
covering but a limited circle Of ground,
they resemble at distance gigantic
shocks of grain, except that they are
crowned with great masses of the quiv-
ering bamboo foliage with which Japa-
ncse art has made us familiar.
The major skirtcd along the outer
edge of the jungle for quite distance
without hearing or seeing anything in
the shape of game, and was about re-
tracing his steps to his camp. when he
heard, ut short distance ahead, the
crow Of a jungle cock and immediately
made all haste toward the sound.
Now, be it known that the majors
hunting ground was one of the most
frcquented haunts in all Burmah for
wild elephants. Indeed, it was q
knowledge of this fact that had made
our doughty nimrod choose this partic-
ular region for his present excursion,
and it was his purpose to make search
for this royal game as soon as his
breakfast was dispatched. But when
the major hunted elephants he carried
heavy Westly Richards, throwing an
ounce ball of hardened lead, and he had
trailers and native hunters to assist
him.. The little rifle, now in his hand,
was a mere popgun compared to his
great elephant gun" and carried per-
haps sixty or seventy to the pound.
Intent on getting a sh OF at the jungle
fowl, the ma ior hastened along and had
almost reached the spot where
in his mind he had decided that he
would sight the still growing jungle
cock, when to his great disgust he
found his track crossed by deep null
lah or ravine cut into the soft soil by
the flood during the rainy season.
Cursing his luck he searched along the
edge of the ravinc for short distance
until he found n spot where, with in
finite effort and loss of breath, he man
aged to lower himself into the nullah
on one side and raise himself to the
level of the plain beyond.
AS he Strengthened himself up, mop
ping the perspiration from his flushed
face, he heard slight noise, appar-
emily proceeding from a clump of bam-
boo close by, and, turning to see what
caused it, found himself face to face
with one of the largest bull elephants
he had ever seen. The bull evidently
meant business, for, with trunk ele-
waited and whistling like a locomotive,
he instantly charged the astonished ma
ior. There was no chance to retreat, or
time to think what was best to be done;
but, more by force of instinct than rea-
son, the major threw his little rifle to
his shoulder and pulled the trigger, fir
ing square into the face of the enraged
brute now fairly towering above him.
Firing that shot was the last con-
scious act of the ajor's for some time.
His cook had the breakfast ready, and
mad grown as cross as the major him
self as he saw the food being spoilt by
getting cold. The native trackers ana
hunters had gathered. and were wait
ing .mps.,ensly for the MAJORS return