A Day's Eleidhant Hu7iting in Essex. 53 



way. But it is too soon yet to sum up the events of the 

 day. We aire still in the region where scores of elephants 

 have been traced by our leader, Sir Antonio, during his 

 residence in Essex, and some wonderful sights and sensa- 

 tions may yet await us. 



The signal is given to withdraw from the Uphall field, 

 and to hark back towards Ilford. On the London road, just 

 beyond Ilford, are some game preserves which have been 

 explored with great success in previous years. Towards 

 Ilford, then, we go along the Barking road. The landscape 

 scenery, might we linger to enjoy it, would doubtless charm 

 us with something of idyllic beauty. All around us the 

 peaceful aborigines of Ilford pursue their wonted toil. 

 Their life's employ would seem to be the cartage of manure. 

 This staple industry of modern Ilford engrosses all the 

 rural population. They stack the precious tilth in massive 

 banks along the road, and seem to grudge the narrow 

 embrasure in the long unlovely parapet that leads to many 

 a cottage. Such are the charms of the Ilford country in 

 the month of June. But even here the ancient ivory 

 trade would seem to have survived. Some of the natives, 

 suspending for the moment their virtuous husbandry, 

 make advances to us, and seem inclined for exchange and 

 barter. They show us various articles of the elephant trafific, 

 which seems to form the native wealth of the country. 

 In a few minutes the lower molar tooth of a young 

 elephant has changed hands. The purchaser knows it to 

 be the loioer molar because the grinding surface is slightly 

 concave, whereas the upper molar is always in the same 

 degree convex. Other ivory ware might perhaps have been 

 offered to us, but the pace of our leaders began rapidly to 

 increase, and we were speedily re-entering Ilford. Here, 

 at Ilford, we find the aborgines assembled at a goat -fair. 

 Goats, it would seem, are the favourite milch-fauna of the 

 district. We push on further, and are able to descry just 

 ahead of us the huntresses of our party. Sir Antonio's 

 carriage is again conveying them to the scene of expected 

 sport. We, the hardier sex, are footing it as we go. The 

 way is longer than we expected, but it is enlivened (as is 



