HERD OF ELEPHANTS. 27 



den some miles in a northerly direction, we crossed the 

 broad and gravelly bed of a periodical river, in which 

 were abundance of holes excavated by the elephants, 

 containing delicious water. Having passed the river, 

 we entered an entensive grove of picturesque cameel- 

 dorn trees, clad in young foliage of the most delicious 

 green. On gaining a gentle eminence about a mile be- 

 yond this grove, I looked forth upon an extensive hol- 

 low, where I beheld for the first time for many days a 

 fine old cock ostrich, which quickly observed us and 

 dashed away to our left. I had ceased to devote my 

 attention to the ostrich, and was straining my eyes in 

 an opposite direction, when Kleinboy called out to me, 

 " Dar loup de ould carle ;" and turning my eyes to the 

 retreating ostrich, I beheld two first-rate old bull ele- 

 phants, charging along at their utmost speed within a 

 hundred yards of it. They seemed at first to be in great 

 alarm, but, quickly discovering what it was that had 

 caused their confusion, they at once reduced their pace to 

 a slow and stately walk. This was a fine look-out ; the 

 country appeared to be favorable for an attack, and I 

 was followed by Wolfe and Bonteberg, both tried and 

 serviceable dogs with elephants. Owing to the pace at 

 which I had been riding, both dogs and horses were out 

 of breath, so I resolved not to attack the elephants im- 

 mediately, but to follow slowly, holding them in view. 

 The elephants were proceeding right up the wind, and 

 the distance between us was about five hundred yards. 

 I advanced quietly toward them, and had proceeded aljout 

 halfway, when, casting my eyes to my right, I beheld 

 a whole herd of tearing bull elephants standing thick 

 together on a wooded eminence within three hundred 

 yards of me. These elepiiants were almost to leeward. 

 Now the correct thing to do was to slay the best in each 



