4 . 'PREFACE. 



The lively and graphic narratives of Mr. Gumming, 

 from which we have so freely borrowed, seem to open 

 an entirely new era in hunting. His astonishing 

 success in attacking whole herds of elephants and 

 giraffes, and assailing groups of lions and rhinoceroses, 

 would seem to establish the principle that a bold 

 front, quick eye, and unflinching nerve, will enable a 

 single man to hold his ground, and destroy or dis- 

 perse a host of the fiercest wild beasts. We com- 

 mend the portions of this volume copied from Mr, 

 Cumming's work to the special notice of the reader. 

 The narratives may seem incredible; but we believe 

 them; and the spoils of the chase brought from 

 Airica by this daring huntsman, afford convincing 

 proofs of the general truthfulness of his statements. 



The volume is very copiously embellished, as 

 seemed necessary from the nature of the subject; 

 and we trust that the delineations of animals and 

 birds, as well as of hunting scenes, will be recognized 

 as true copies from nature. 



Considering the large amount of information con- 

 densed into the volume, and the thrilling character 

 of many of the narratives it contains, the compiler 

 believes that it will prove an acceptable offering to 

 the reading public. 



