The Van Buren press., 1900-03-24
| watching a Troop of
Elephants by Moonlight
EMNENT7IS 7S7 ~ ~ ~ a
BY B. Vaughn Kirby.

7 EFT me endeavor to describe the
camp and it's surroundings, so that
the reader may become participator
in the thrilling events, and share in
imagination the feelings of awe and
wonderment with which ] gazed upon
q scene such as few hunters have wit
messed. A clear. limpid stream, 20
yards wide, flowing over q smooth
sandy bottom, between low banks COW
cred with reeds. ten to twelve feet in
height. On the right bank the reed
fringe, dense but narrow, separates the
stream from wide level terrace, cov-
cred with short grass, struggling bush,
and here and there fine spreading in
chenga tree. This serrace-which in
flood time is covered with water-runs
back for distance of 80 yards to the
real food bank of the stream, 20 feet
above its present level. On the top and
edge OF the bank, under shelter of a
huge inchenga, ny camp is pitched.
Forest trees surround it, and in the
branches of those nearest to the tent
are hung masks and skins dry or dry
ing, skulls and horns finding rest
ing place in some trees at greater dis
tance from the tent, while on plat
form of logs, under grass thatch, is
pile Of tusks. Beyond camp stretches
an extent of park-likc forest. Across
the river there is no open bench be-
tween It and the food bank but broad
and almost impenetrable area of reeds
growing on the sandy ridges and in the
intervening hollows, through which at
times branches of the stream flow.
Above, on the opposite high bank, the
forest is excessively dense, full of low,
thick jungle, and lacking the park-like
appearance of the country on the
right bank. In the light of day the
vlewis color-scene of great brilliancy,
for II Is now nearly midsummer, and
the green reeds are in flower, the aca-
cas in blossom, and hung with sweet
scented balls of pink and gold flowers
many Of which give forth delicious
perfumes, are spread in clustering
spangles through the vivid green Of
the young grass, or hung in festoons
Of color from the larger trees.
The forest itself Is wealth of TO-
lage and color, to which my descrip-
tive powers cannot do justic. Brilliant
butterflies fit from flower to flower
while every now and then black and
yellow swallow-tail darts through the
forest openings, skimming past the
tent into the forest beyond, and drag
on-hles OF startling color dart on gauzy
wings among the reeds. Kingfshers
seek their food among the arching
branches. sweet-voiced birds at morn
and evening court admiration, while
myriads OF insects swell the murmur-
ing voices of these soltudes even IN
the intense heat of MONDAY, But now
the sun has set in the glowing west,
nnd the threatening thunder-clouds
have passed away; the troops of the
"monkey-people" have drunk thei" illl
and sought their resting places among
the topmost boughs in the forest;
doves have cooed their evening lula
by. and francolins uttered their CHEEKY
good night. the brief twilight is past,
and the moon Is over all, hanging like
n silver shield in sky of blue, stud.
ded with stars. whose brill!ancy The
dweller In northern ATTITUDES cannot
know. In the open II is still as light
as day, but In the shadows is the dark.
ness Of night II was n moonlight
night, slch us might be experienced in
any other part Of the tropical zone,
and confirmation was yet required that
the scene was that of hunters camp
IN the wilds of Africa. About $3.50 p.
m. had finished the various little du-
ties which have 10 be attended to In
camp after the days sport Is over,
hnd cleaned my rifles, written up my
diury, md, having smoked my evening
hulf.plpe OF tobacco, had turned into
my mosquito.net, both ends of the tent
remaining open. Perhaps there was less
talking among the boys that nlght--at
any rate the camp seemed quieter than
usual--nndn In half an hour was asleep.
Suddenly awokc, conscious that II
loud, hcnrse sound llke--yet unlike
that made by n lion when selling It's
prey, was ringing In my ears, followed
BY d rush, crnsh and n plnlntivc cry,
such as u bDifnlo cnlf utters when
deprived OF It's dam. sprang up In
my cot, listening, and saw dark form
creeping toward the tent, and then
Dolnmbi, one OF the carriers, crouched
Ut the open doorway. "a lion, master;
u llonl II has caught n bui'alo!" he
whispered excltedly. We listened again
mo longer could we hear the bleuting
cry, but twice or thrice cultural sounds
were borne on the gentle wind. |
jumped out, counting the attacks OF
inyriads of mosquitoes, which pierced
through and through my pnjamas, and,
taking refuge In the smoke of the fires
with the awakened natives, listened in.
tensely. The sounds appeared to em.
innate from spot about mileup the
river, and the boys said that couple
Of lions had seized q young buffalo
out Of = troop In the reeds, und, 'bav.