252 ELEPHANT-HUNTING [ch. x 



We followed footpaths among the fields until we 

 reached the edge of the jungle in which the elephants 

 stood. 



This jungle lay beside the forest, and at this point 

 separated it from the fields. It consisted of a mass of 

 rank-gi*owing bushes, allied to the cotton plant, ten or 

 twelve feet high, with only here and there a tree. It 

 was not good ground in which to hunt elephant, for the 

 tangle was practically impenetrable to a hunter save 

 along the elephant trails ; whereas the elephants them- 

 selves could move in any direction at will, with no more 

 difficulty than a man would have in a hayfield. The 

 bushes in most places rose just above their backs, so 

 that they wxre completely hid from the himter even a 

 few feet away. Yet the cover afforded no shade to the 

 mighty beasts, and it seemed strange that elephants 

 should stand in it at mid-day with the sun out. There 

 they were, however, for, looking cautiously into the 

 cover from behind the bushes on a slight hill-crest a 

 quarter of a mile off, we could just make out a huge 

 ear now and then as it lazily flapped. 



On account of the wind we had to go well to one side 

 before entering the jungle. Then in we went in single 

 file, Cuninghame and Tarlton leading, with a couple of 

 our naked guides. The latter showed no great desire 

 to get too close, explaining that the elephants were 

 "very fierce." Once in the jungle, we trod as quietly 

 as possible, threading our way along the elephant trails, 

 which crossed and recrossed one another. Evidently it 

 was a favourite haunt, for the sign was abundant, both 

 old and new. In the impenetrable cover it was quite 

 impossible to tell just where the elephants were, and 

 twice we sent one of the savages up a tree to locate the 

 game. The last time the watcher, who stayed in the 



