26b ADVEXTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



combined with his sagacious disposition and peculiar 

 habits, impart to him an interest in the eyes of the 

 hunter which no other animal can call forth. The 

 pace of the elephant, when undisturbed, is a bold, free, 

 sweeping step ; and from the peculiar spongy formation 

 of his foot, his tread is extremely light and inaudible, 

 and all his movements are attended with a peculiar 

 gentleness and grace. This, however, ony applies to 

 the elephant when roaming undisturbed in his jungle ; 

 for, when roused by the hunter, he proves the most dan- 

 gerous enemy, and far more difficult to conquer than 

 any other beast of the chase. 



On the 27th, as day dawned, I left my shooting, 

 hole, and proceeded to inspect the spoor of my wound- 

 ed, elephant. After following it for some distance I 

 came to an abrupt hillock, and fancying that from tho 

 summit a good view might be obtained of the sur- 

 rounding country, I left my followers to seek the spoor 

 while I ascended. I did not raise my eyes from the 

 ground until I had reached the highest pinnacle of rock. 

 I then looked east, and, to my inexpressible gratifica- 

 tion, beheld a troop of nine or ten elephants quietly 

 browsing within a quarter of a mile of me. I allowed 

 myself only one glance at them, and then rushed down 

 to warn my followers to be silent. A council of war 

 was hastily held, the result of which was my ordering 

 Isaac to ride hard to camp, with instructions to return 

 as quickly as possible, accompanied by Kleinboy, and 

 to bring me my dogs, the large Dutch rifle, and a fresh 

 horse. I once more ascended the hillock to feast my 

 eyes upon the enchanting sight before me, and, drawing 

 out my spy-glass, narrowly watched the motions of the 

 elephants. The herd consisted entirely of females, sev- 

 eral of which were followed by small calves. 



