PREFACE. xi 



dangerous to attempt a close approach on foot. 

 Should the animal turn upon the hunter, it is next to 

 impossible to take the forehead-shot with effect. It 

 is therefore customary in Africa, to fire at the shoulder 

 with a very heavy rifle at a distance of fifty or sixty 

 yards. In Ceylon it was generally believed that the 

 shoulder-shot was useless ; thus we have distinct 

 methods of shooting the two species of elephants : 

 this is caused, not only by the difference between the 

 animals, but chiefly by the contrast in the countries 

 they inhabit. Ceylon is a jungle ; thus an elephant 

 can be approached within a few paces, which admit of 

 accurate aim at the brain. In Africa the elephant is 

 frequently upon open ground ; therefore he is shot in 

 the larger mark (the shoulder) at a greater distance. 

 I have shot them successfully both in the brain and in 

 the shoulder, and where the character of the country 

 admits an approach to within ten paces, I prefer the 

 Ceylon method of aiming either at the temple or 

 behind the ear. 



Although the African elephant with his magnifi- 

 cent tusks is a higher type than that of Ceylon, I 

 look back to the hunting of my younger days with 

 unmixed pleasure. Friends with whom I enjoyed 

 those sports are still alive, and are true friends 



