-^ The African Elephant 



clearing the place entirely of elephants. They are 

 exceptionally well armed with ritles, and are accustomed 

 to hunt large elephants in bands of three or more. 

 They hunt them in their customary refuges — in the 

 dense jungle, and only fire when quite close. They take 

 flight after a few shots, as the animal often makes a 

 rush towards the dense clouds of smoke. Often they 

 follow the wounded beasts for several days. Every 

 rifleman marks his own particular shot with a peculiar 

 sign in order that it may be ascertained who gave the 

 death-wound. 



These so-called " trustworthy Fundi," as they were 

 euphemistically christened some years ago, know how to 

 keep their secrets, and always give rosy reports to the- 

 authorities with regard to their doings. They always 

 report upon a number of herds of which they know. As 

 to the destruction of these herds, they are as innocent as- 

 new-born children! In reality they play a shameful part. 

 Only he who tracks them for years is aware of their tricks 

 and artifices. There is no doLfl;)t about the fact thrit they 

 are exterminating the elephants in the same way as, in the 

 middle of the last century, the musket-armed negro-traders 

 were commissioned by white men to destroy every trace 

 of elephant and rhinoceros. These hunters wear amulets, 

 to which they trust for protection ; and in firm belief in 

 their magic spell they often approach elephants without 

 tear. Naturally this gives them a certain advantage over 

 the cautious European. 



After killing a number of elephants (fortified always 

 by their witchcraft) they give themselves out as qualified 



i6^ 



