The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-10-11
HUNTING FOR BIG GAME.
THE PERILs OF ELEPHANT SHOOT
ING IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Laws for the Protection Of Elephant
The Heaviest Tusk in the World
at the Fair

HE heaviest elephant tusk In
the world, so far as known, is
i at the Worlds Fair in the
G Cape Colony exhibit. It is
seven and half feet long and weighs
l5S pounds At the thickest part it is
about six inches through. The mate to
it, which is a little lighter, is in the
museum at Cape Town. There is an
elephant tusk larger than this, be-
longing to the King of Siam, but it is
not so heavy.
The elephant who carried these
monstrous tusks more than 800
pounds of ivory, or twice the weight
of an average man-was killed in the
Zambesi country, South Africa, some
years ago. He was about fourteen feet
high and was a genuine king of the for
est who would have dwarfed Jumbo
himself.
Elephant hunting is the first Of all
sports with the gun, but the slaughter
of these great animals has been SO pro-
digious since the Arabs and other
traders have sold breach-loading rifles
to the tribes throughout Africa, that
many fear their speedy determination.
However, Robert Lee, who is one of
the men in charge of the Cape Colony
exhibit, and who has travelled much in
the elephant country, thinks that the
great beast will hold on for many gem
erations yet. Africa is so vast, many
regions are so difficult of access, and
the elephant is 50 tenacious of life, he
says, that man cannot kill all his tribe
as he has slaughtered the buffalo in
America.
elephant hunting is extremely
dangerous, said Mr.. Lee. 81 know
ofno other sport in which the hunter
is SO liable to become the hunted. L
am not a sportsman myself, and L
have never tried to kill an elephant,
but was once with Others who thought
they would accomplish such feat.
''1n 1887 l accompanied Colonel
Carrington's expedition into the coun-
try north of the Transvaal. While rid
ing along through an open country
we saw herd of elephants think
there were about twenty of them. We
came close enough for shot. The
Colonel called for his elephant gun
and blazed away ut the elephants. In
stantly the whole herd darted toward
us, trumpeting fiercely and really
presenting most terrifying appear
ance. None of us paused for another
shot, but turned our horses and gal
loped away as fast as we could, the
elephants in full chase. So far as we
knew, the Colonels bullet had missed
entirely.
''My horse was not an especially
good one, and 1 brought up the rear of
that flying column. An elephant, de-
spite his awkward appearance, can run
very fast, and l began to think of my
sins. My horse stepped into hole,
stumbled, fell and threw me over his
head. wasn't much hurt, and
jumped to my feet instantly and seized
the horses reins. The animal wasn't
much hurt, either, and l got him to
his feet and was on his back and off
again in about fifteen seconds, think.
l don't know how close the elephants
were TO me when l fell, for l never
looked back, l overlook the rest of the
party, and when we stopped the ole
plants were to be seen no longer.
People who are fond of chase with
plenty of danger in it should hunt the
elephant. l don't care for it myself"
Mr.. Lee says he has seen many herds
of elephants along the Zambesi River,
and they are still more plentiful further
north. Though Cape Colony has been
settled about as long as the United
States, there are still some elephants
in portion of its mountainous region,
known as the Knysai country. They
are supposed to be about five hundred
in number, and protected by the Gov
ernment.
Elephants are said to grow larger
south of the Zambesi than north of it.
There are considerable herds in the
country of Kahma, King of the Bow
longs. This man is the most advanced
of all the South African kings or
chiefs. He has provided set of game
laws for his country, and they are
rigidly enforced. Hence in the large
territory over which he rules the ele-
plants are increasing in numbers
rather than diminishing. KhamR, nat
urally man of good disposition, is
largely under the influence of Pres
byterian missionary, Scotchman,
and very enlightened and humane
man.
81 know Khama very WE'LL" said
Mr.. Lee, "as l accompanied one of the
expeditions of the English into his
country. He is "A remarkable man in
appearance, as well as in character.
He is at least six feet four inches tall,
and enormously fat. He received us
kindly and asked us many questions.
He was greatly pleased with our
clothes, and discarded his African at
tire in favor of suit like ours.