The Opelousas courier., 1893-11-18
HUNTING FOR BIG GAME
THE PERILs OF ELEPHANT SHOUT
ING IN SOUTH AFRICA
r,.,ys for the Protection of Elephants
The Heaviest Tusk in the "orlu
at the Fair.

- AES
at the Fair.
T-THE heaviest elephant tusk III
the world, so far as known, Is
at the Worlds Fair IN the
Cape Colony exhibit. 1t is
seven and a half feet long and weighs
1853 pounds. At the thickest part II 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 IL Is
not SO heavy.
The elephant who carried these
monstrous tusks - more than oVo
mounds 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 teet
high and was o 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 sopro-
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 vet. Africa is SO vast, many
regions are SO difficult of access ana
the elephant is so tenacious OF life, ne
SAWS. that O cannot kill all his tribe
as he has slaughtered the buffalo III
America.
elephant hunting is extremely
dangerous" said Mr.. Lee. 81 kno"
of no 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,
bnt I was once with others who thought
they would accomplish such a feat.
"In 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 a herd of elephants. L THINK
there we're about twenty of them. We
came close enough for a shot. The
Colonel called for his elephant gun
and blazed away at the elephants. In
stantly the whole herd darted toward
us. trumpeting fiercely and really
presenting a 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 VIZ
knew. the ColoneI's bullet had missed
entirely.
stMy horse was not an especial,
good one, and I brought up the real o
that flying column. An elephant, de
spite his awkward appearance, can rul
very fast, and [ began to think OF m.
sins. My horse stepped into a hole
stumbled, fell and threw me over HI
head. I wasn't much hurt, and
Jumped to my feet instantly and seize'
the horses reins. The animal WASH
much hurt, either, and I got him t.
his feet and was on his back and o.
again in about fifteen seconds, think
i I don't know how close the elephant
were to me when l fell, for l neve
looked back, I overlook the rest of tn
J party, and when we stopped the ele
J plants were to be seen no Longer
People who are fond of @ chase wit
l plenty of danger in it should hunt tn
: elephant. don't car for it myself.
g Nj. Lee says he has seen many hero
|, of elephants along the Zambesi River
and they are still more plentiful furthe
north. Though Cape Colony has bee
settled about as long q the Unite
States, there are still some elephant
in q portion of its mountainous region
Ia known as the Knysai country. The
l are supposed to be about five hundre
in number, and protected by the Go
eminent.
Elephants are said to grow large
south of the Zambesi than north of /
There are considerable herds in tt
: country of Kahma, King of the Boy
= longs. This man is the most advance
Of all the South African kings
chiefs. He has provided q set of gan
laws for his country, end they a.
rigidly enforced. Hence in the Lars
T. territory over which he rules the ell
;. plants are increasing in numbe
" rather than diminishing. Khama, ns
urally a man Of good disposition,
:. largely under the influence OF a Pre-
q byterian missionary, q Scotchma
is and a very enlightened and a human
man.
g. 81 know Khama very WE'LL" sa
+, Mr.. Lee, las / accompanied one OF t
expeditions of the English into
country. He is a remarkable man
appearance, as well as in characte
q He is at least six feet four inches ia
20 and enormously fat. He received
kindly and asked us many question
He was greatly pleased with o
ay clothes, and discarded his African
.aa tire in favor of q suit like ours"