1 5 6 SFOR T IN ABYSSINIA. 



Zoo may be seen swimming about his tank. They 

 reared themselves out of the water and exposed 

 their heads and part of their necks, sometimes 

 opening their enormous jaws so that I could see 

 their white tusks. I fired at the nearest of the 

 herd, and hit him behind the ear. He began 

 bleeding profusely, and waltzed round and round in 

 the water, causing tremendous waves. At last in about 

 half an hour he sank, and we saw him no more. I 

 shot at several more and, I believe, killed another, but 

 we saw no traces of them again ; and I think it is a 

 great chance, in a large rapid river of this sort, if 

 their carcases are found at all. I sent servants during 

 the following days up and down the river, but they 

 were quite unsuccessful in finding any trace of the 

 beasts. H. did not come in till late, having gone 

 after an elephant he had wounded. He told me they 

 had found large clots of blood on the animal's track, 

 but that he had to give up as they were getting far 

 away from our line of march and from any water- 

 pools. Cassa arrived very late with the rest of the 

 donkeys. He assured us that one of the Baria had 

 fired the jungle in a circle, and so had tried to surround 

 him and some of the more heavily-laden donkeys 

 which had lagged behind. This was quite believed 

 by all our servants, and it made a great impression 

 on some of them. 



