The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-10-10
E1ephant-Huntingi in Uganda.


1 have lately returned from a short
trip into the back part of the province
of Chagwe, which was undertaken with
a view to examine that portion of the
country as well as to have little change
and exercise, combined with some ele-
phant-shooting. Instead of proceeding
to the Nile direct by the main road,
struck off in more northerly direction.
The first three marches were very trying,
as the whole country was densely over
grown with heavy grass, varied by occas-
ional swamps and patches OF forest. On
my fourth march | entered region
which bore striking resem blance to
the upper parts of Man and Kikuyu. 1t
presented a charming appearance of for
est and -grass-clad hills sloping away. to
the north and terminating III a low-lying
tract OF country in the direction OF
Unyoro The entire region was very
sparsely populated andmany ofthe inhabi-
tants seemed as though they had never
set eyes on a European before. From my
camp, which was pitched on the crest Of
a hill, | obtained charming view OF
the Nile some two miles distant, which
at this spot flows between high, forest
clad banks.
The elephants were all round this place
in great numbers, and were being closely
hunted by the Waganda, who had been
sent out for the purpose by the king aud
some of the other leading chiefs. These
men, armed for the most part with long
muzzle-aiding musket, hunt together IN
number, their method being to get as
close to the elephant as possible and at
given signal to fire volley into one OF
It's legs. 1t the attack is successful the
leg is broken and the animal instantly
disabled, when they finish it off at leisure,
More frequently the unfortunate beast
escapes with a number of terribly LAGER
ated wounds, caused by the iron potts OF
from an inch to an inch and half IN
length, which are used by the hunters
in preference to -leaden bullets. In this
case the wounded beast retires to the
densest and most impenetrable jungles,
where, il not tracked and killed, he UNI
dergoes the most cruel and barbarous
methods of hunting conceivable. Ihose
who are not armed With guns attack Inc
elephant with short, heavy spear from
a tree overhanging one of the regular
elephant tracks through the forest. As
the unsuspectin., animal passes beneath
they drive the spear down with terrific
force, aiming at either the nape OF the
neck OF the spine. Ii the spear is well
delivered the animal drops instantly, but
Snouiu tHe Huutet M!ss 1Ho tlodi opoo on0
beast rushes away with the heavy spear
in his body. The weighty shaft acts as
lever upon the keen-egded haed, in adj
dition to ting blows which it receives
form the vaHious distractions through
which it forces it's passage. In this way
most frightful wound is produced,
which causes the elephant to sink event.
ually from loss of blood.
I found that the herds, which num-
bered from 20 to 100 and upwards, were
chiefly cows, the bulls being very few "a
number, and usually found roaming
about either singly or in twos and threes
Taking them all around ! should say that
the elephants exhibited a very poor show
of ivory, and though | noticed several
huge beasts among them, there were
very few which considered as leegiti-
mate game for the hunter. This, how
ever, is not recognized in any way by the
Waganda, who slaughter old and young
on this principle / could have bagged
many more than did. AS it was con
tented myself with nine, but had the
satisfaction of knowing that, with the
in self-defence they were all ipieked ami
mails. The wet season, which has now
set in, made it terribly heavy work fore
ing ones way through the heavy grass
and swamp, day after day, in the inces-
SAINT rain, and found that had expert
enced quite enough of it after five or six
days. On one occasion was caught in
terrific hailstorm, accompanied by the
most appalling thunder and lightning
Some Of my men were very severely
bruised by the. hailstones and all were
nearly dead from the cold. The few
people living insthe vicinity Of my camp
were very civil and friendly disposed, SO
that, on the whole, the trip was in every
way an enjoyable one. For the benefit
of those of your readers who may be in
terested in such matters, would men
ton that the rifles which ! used on this
eleven drains of powder .and hardened
spherical bullet, and 500 deg. express,
and that all my elephants were killed by
the head shot, either in the orifiee of the
ear or in line between the eye and the
ear.-London Times Uganda Correspond