Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-07


1Sivn. For ruthless destruction this
hunt beat anything have ever hoped
to see. Although / commenced by
doining the hunt. really became
spectator after a short time. The
hunt, unlike most elephant hunts. was
not conducted for ivory. 1t was for
more useful purpose according to Az
lrican opinion, for it was for food. Of
course the ivory had its value, and as
I was on the spot hoped to make
nice sum by purchasing It,
Elephants have habit of migrating
from one part of the country to an
other in herds of from five to 100. 1t
is indeed strange. that, as though by
arrangement, all the elephants in the
north start on long march south, or
vice versa. very often with no appar-
ent reason. / have been passed by
20 herds in a week all moving south.
The way they march is peculiarly
Intelligent; the young and weak ele-
.phants. even If they are weakened
/ through age, are crowded in the CEN
ter. and the rest of the herd that are
at the height of their vigor and have
all their fighting powers, march on
the outside Some will even scout out
IA considerable distance ahead OF the
herd and on the slightest sign Of dan
ger give the unmistakable signal OF
alarm. which is short sharp trump
ing srcrt.
Iile hunt in question took place in
TIE middle OF the dry season which
cc,npoaccs in May. in that district.
ard is Il its height about the end of
June. Lookout towers we're built in
the cren country and native watchers
occupied them day and night. For at
might the elephants can be heard.
After some days natives from the
northern villages who were not then
at war with the men of the Senga
country, who are notorious cannibals
and much feared, came in with the
news that a number Of large herds
were on the way south
There was much rejoicing on the
part of the natives, for there had been
many wars during the last year and
human flesh was cheap and was con-
Isidered no longer luxury by the fas-
tidious natives who really like yari-
ETY. N their food. A change at least
once year is considered necessary.
One morning my hoy" called me
from my hammock and informed me
with great show Of glee that the ele-
phants were coming. jumped for
l~,r 1s,I <Asr of
excited natives who were collected in
clusters and getting orders from
their chiefs.
Preparing for the Hunt.
Spears with razor edges were glis-
rows were prepared for the hunt.
Torches were made and earthenware
Jars we're filed with burning charcoal
and carried by each native. These
were to burn the grass
At the edge of the forest that skirt
ed the open weld at least 5000 natives
from different villages collected by ap-
pointment. Men who had recently
been fighting each other and eating
each others relations greeted one an
other with apparent friendship. In
structions were given by the chiefs
and the natives formed in parties oi
from five to nine; then without more
ado their glistening naked forms van
ished into the grass. which was from
10 to IL feet in height. l ascended a
tree on the top of which there was q
platform built for lookout by the
NATIVE hunters.
AS far as could see there were
signs Of native watch towers but moi
an elephant in sight, although the dull
appearance of the high grass was
broken here and there by multicoloret
herds of antelope and quaggos. All
day waited, even eating my food ur
An the tree, but not sign of thu
quarry. I went to my hammock tha
might somewhat disappointed and t.
add to my annoyance I could hear thu
dull monotone Of the native womer