20 AFRICAN ELEPHANT 



" Owing to the nature of the country they frequent, the pursuit 

 of elephants is a somewhat dangerous sport. Great skill in marksman- 

 ship is not the quality most needed in elephant-shooting ; endurance, 

 litheness, aptitude for taking the best advantage of circumstances, and, 

 above all, coolness and self-control at the supreme moment being of 

 more importance. At the very close quarters at which the shot has 

 generally to be taken, there is not much room for bad shooting, if 

 only the hunter keep calm. 



" Elephant-hunting is the most arduous and exacting of all field- 

 sports, and, when persistently followed up, entails a tremendous strain 

 on the system. 



"In hunting elephants the direction of the wind is the most 

 important consideration. They are exceedingly keen-scented, and the 

 slightest suspicion of taint in the air will put them on the alert, and 

 set them feeling with the sensitive tips of their uplifted trunks for the 

 faintest breath of confirmation of the proximity of their enemy, man. 

 On the other hand, as their sight is not good, the sportsman who is 

 careful not to expose himself when creeping up, and when in full view 

 to remain motionless, is not likely to be readily detected. If it were 

 not for this, elephant-hunting would be almost equivalent to suicide. 

 Although their hearing is acute enough, elephants are so accustomed 

 to all sorts of sounds made by their companions that they are not 

 easily alarmed by slight noises unless evidence of danger is apparent 

 to other senses. Even the report of a gun does not disturb them in 

 districts where they are unaccustomed to it. The Ndorobo natives 

 affirm that elephants cannot keep silent for long ; and cows and 

 calves are particularly noisy, a loud cry (made apparently by the 

 latter) often coming from the herds. 



" The hunter on his part must listen intently for any sound 

 betraying the position of his quarry, such as blowing through the 

 trunk, and especially the frequent intestinal rumblings. 



" Since opinions differ widely, I will not make any assertion as to 

 the kind of rifle best suited for elephant-shooting, but will only 

 mention that I have killed many elephants, including several big bulls, 

 with a service Lee-Metford and solid bullet cartridge ; adding that, in 

 my opinion, penetration is the most important element. The brain 

 is easily reached by a side-shot in front of the orifice of the ear, and, 

 if successful, this shot is instantly fatal. The heart is, however, a 

 surer mark, though the effect is not so sudden. 



" The Ndorobo kill elephants, chiefly for the sake of the meat, 

 with an assegai thrown from the hand at close quarters, the poisoned 



