The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-08-02
HUNTING ELEPHANTS.
How the natives Get Big Game ON
the white Nile.
FROM the London Graphic.

From the London Graphic.
Bordering the White Nile some three,
hundred miles south of Khartoum and
extending some two hundred miles fun
Their south to near Fashoda, is as fine
a big game country as is to be found
in Africa The following species
abound on either bank of the river:
Elephant, giraffe, buffalo, lion, Loop
ard, cheetah. sewal, roam antelope.
waterbuck,. tora hartebeest, bestard
hartebeest, white cared cob, reedbuck,
gazelle, ostrich, hippopotamus,> wart-
hog, etc. The pursuit of game in this
district, as also in the rest of the Sou
dan game laws, which are everywhere
rigidly enforced. The killing of ele-
plant and buffalo. with large bore rifles,
though doubtless exciting sport, does
not compare with the method prac-
ticed by the Selim Baggara Arabs, who
hunt them on horseback armed only
with their broad-headed spears.
In this sport the white man is prac-
tically precluded from taking an active
part, owing to the nature of the bush
and cotton soil. Their plan is as fol-
lows: Parties of from four to ten men,
riding about nine to ten stone, mount
ed on thirteen hand Abyssinian ponies,
price thirty to forty sheep ii. e., e3
to GA, for the price Of sheep here aver
age about 2s.), accompanied by their
women and donkeys, encamp near some
spot known to be the drinking place
of the elephants. These, however, only
drink about every third night, and
pass the interim some twenty miles or
more in dense and waterless jungle.
The hunters having settled their camp
on the river, leave their women IN
charge and themselves sleep the night
some eight or ten miles inland and to
leeward of the numerous elephant
tracks leading to the river.
Trumpeting of the Herd.
If in luck. they will probably hear
the herd trumpeting during the night.
and, in any case. at the first break of
dawn, every man will be IN the saddle,
and they at once proceed to draw up
wind for fresh spoor. 1t may be here
remarked their toilet is not extensive,
their hunting kit being little more than
nature gave them, as practically all
clothes are dispensed with in order to
facilitate passage through the holding
wait tahiti or "lxitr" bush. Occa-
sionally the elephants are met return
ing leisurely from their libations,
which simplifes matters considerably.
but more often they have comprised
the ten miles from the river. and by
dawn are we'll on their way to their
home in the thickest bush. as a rule
twenty miles frann the river.
If the latter be the case, on hitting
off the spoor the Arabs at once dash
off with wild hoorooshes in head1ong
pursuit along the plainly visible track,
and continue with top speed, with here
and there momentary check, regard
less of all obstacles. such as fallen
trees, branches. deep baked elephant
tracks. bulfnches of 'wait-a-bit' BUSH
and the worst of cotton soil, until they
come up to the herd or mark them
TO ground" after perhaps a ten-mile
point in the impenetrable kitr bush,
which serves as a sanctuary for them.
On nearing the elephants the cows
often turn and challenge their pur-
suers before being actually molested;
however, in any case a battle royal is
shortly begun. The Arabs, one by
one. thrusting dexterously with their
keen, broad-bladed spears at the hind
quarters of the selected elephant, are
each in turn pursued but only to re-
turn and renew the attack afresh.
Drops from Loss of Blood.
Eventually the mighty pachyderm
subsidies, weak from the loss of blood
from many a wound. and is then at
the mercy of his wildly vociferating as
sailants Now and again a tall at a
critical moment leaves an Arab an
easy victim to the Infatuated beast;
but so nimble are these hard and wiry
men that fatal or even serious acci-