Soldiering and Sport in Uganda 



feeling. 1 had to rely on my natives spotting him. 

 Suddenly they all right-about-turned and ran up 

 the hill, or rather clambered up it, in a panic. Not 

 unnaturally I went too. However, we soon halted, 

 for it was impossible going, and then it was I 

 obtained a grood broadside-on view. I let off three 

 rounds, the noise of which reverberated around the 

 valley, and was followed by a dead silence. One 

 had hit the mark. He slowly halted, and turning 

 a complete somersault, fell, rolling over and over ; 

 his huge bulk crashed down the declivitous sides of 

 the valley, carrying with it bushes, bamboos, and 

 even small trees. Loading my revolver, I went to 

 find him. This was not easy, as the undergrowth 

 was incredibly thick. We came upon him at last 

 in a pool of blood. He was a huge beast, but had 

 very small feet and tusks ; I believe these are the 

 characteristics of mountain-climbing elephants. If it 

 had not been for a tree he would have assuredly rolled 

 to the bottom of the gully. As it was, his tusks had 

 penetrated right through the trunk of the tree with 

 the force of his fall, and he appeared at first sight 

 to be sleeping with his head buried in it. I cut off 

 the tail, and leaving one of my natives behind, I 

 started back for the head of the gully, at which place 

 the others had shouted out thev would wait for me. 

 I was very faint, and that climb fairly knocked me up. 

 I arrived at the top quite done up. The ascent 

 was all the more difficult, as if you tried to hang on 

 to a root for support, owing to the shallow soil it 

 immediately gave way. Add to this the steepness, 



196 



