28 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



troop, which I accomplished in the following manner: ] 

 gave the large herd my wind, upon which they instantly 

 tossed their trunks aloft, " a moment snuffed the tainted 

 gale," and, wheeling about, charged right down wind, 

 crashing through the jungle in dire alarm. My object 

 now was to endeavor to select the finest bull, and hunt 

 him to a distance from the other troop, before I should 

 commence to play upon his hide. Stirring my steed, 

 I galloped forward. Right in my path stood two rhi- 

 noceroses of the white variety, and to these the dogs in- 

 stantly gave chase. I followed in the wake of the re- 

 treating elephants, tracing their course by the red dust 

 which they raised and loft in clouds behind them. 



Presently emerging into an open glade, I came full 

 in sight of the mighty game; it was a truly glorious 

 sight ; there were nine or ten of them, which were, with 

 one exception, full-grown, first-rate bulls, and all of them 

 carried very long, heavy, and perfect tusks. Their first 

 panic being over, they had reduced their pace to a free, 

 majestic walk, and they followed one leader in a long 

 line, exhibiting an appearance so grand and striking 

 that any description, however brilliant, must fail to con- 

 vey to the mind of the reader an adequate idea of the 

 reality. Increasing my pace, I shot alongside, at the 

 same time riding well out from the elephants, the bette' 

 to obtain an inspection of their tusks. It was a dif- 

 ficult matter to decide which of them I should select, 

 for every elephant seemed better than his neighbor; 

 but, on account of the extraordinary size and beauty 

 of his tusks, I eventually pitched upon a patriarchal 

 bull, which, as is usual with the heaviest, brought up 

 the rear. I presently separated him from his comrades, 

 and endeavored to drive him in a northerly direction 

 There is a peculiar art in driving an elephant in the 



