ELEPHANT (eLEPHAS AFRICANUS). 71 



He himself has a very strong smell which is particularly noticeable in passing 

 any tree or place where he has stood long, and in following him in a winding path in 

 long grass where it is impossible to see more than a few yards ahead his smell is the 

 first indication that you are close to him. 



In thick country his position can also be located by his stomachic rumblings and 

 the flapping of his huge ears, both unmistakable sounds when once heard. 



A trumpeting usually indicates that the herd have winded you and are 

 stampeding. 



During the harvest season they come into the fields at night to eat the maize, and 

 then appear to ignore both the presence and the smell of man, as they sometimes will 

 walk right into a village and help themselves to the harvested grain out of the basket- 

 work stores. 



In walking they go wonderfully silently, and even when stampeding after the first 

 go off, when a few saplings and bushes may be broken down. Like many other 

 animals they are passionately fond of salt, and will break up and demolish whole ant- 

 hills to eat the salt earth of which they are sometimes composed, digging away and 

 breaking off the earth with their tusks. 



It is probably while doing this that they swallow by mistake the stones that are 

 found in the stomach. Sometimes, when such a place is met with, it is possible to 

 judge the size and girth of the tusk by the impress left on the broken side of the 

 ant-hill. 



They are sometimes found dusting themselves with sand, and will also smear 

 mud on a wound to heal it. A wounded animal is sometimes helped up by the 

 remainder of the herd, who, putting him in their midst, help him to get away. 



Places are frequently found where they have stamped up sand and earth by 

 swinging the foot, and natives say that this is to test the direction of the wind by 

 seeing which way the sand blows. 



We have not been able to satisfy ourselves that this either is or is not the correct 

 reason, but we have many times met with these marks on a still day, immediately 

 followed by a change of direction up wind. 



To shoot an elephant one should approach carefully up wind, testing it repeatedly. 



For this purpose a small bag of flour to shake out is useful. 



One should endeavour to get up as silently as possible to within twenty-five yards. 



It does not matter in the least showing oneself, but if there are a good many 

 elephant about it is best, if possible, to fire from behind a stoutish tree, as directly 

 you fire they will all stampede and may go any way. 



The brain shot is distinctly the best. If the animal does not collapse into a 



