THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT 



and property. Until recently two old bulls were a 

 constant source of dread to the Europeans and 

 natives in the neighbourhood. A Hottentot herd 

 man, accompanied by a terrier dog, penetrated a 

 portion of the Addo Bush one day in search of a 

 missing ox, and when traversing a sparsely-wooded 

 portion of the bush, a big bull Elephant suddenly 

 charged down upon him. He had barely time to 

 creep beneath a dense patch of thorny Mimosa scrub 

 before the beast was upon him. It stamped furi- 

 ously around the tangled bush, which bristled with 

 long, sharp thorns, vainly seeking an opening through 

 which to thrust in its trunk. It made desperate 

 efforts to smash the bush by sheer weight, but with- 

 out success. It stood staring at the trembling 

 Hottentot for a few minutes, apparently thinking 

 intently. Then, turning round, it deliberately 

 backed into the stout, thorny scrub and endeavoured 

 to sit on the miserable man, who squirmed and 

 wriggled frantically. After several attempts, the 

 Elephant succeeded in crushing down the stiff 

 thorny branches to such an extent that the man was 

 in as much danger of death from the sharp, three- 

 inch long thorns, as from being sat upon by the 

 Elephant. While this performance was going on, 

 the Hottentot's terrier dog had been badgering the 

 Elephant, especially so when the great beast was 

 attempting to sit upon his master. Irritated and 

 infuriated by innumerable stabs from the thorns 

 and the barking of the dog, the Elephant, with a 



245 



