134 In the Heart of Africa 



Great wooden frame structures weighted with stones are set up 

 at a spot where the buffaloes go to drink, in such a way that when 

 the buffalo touches the water a piece of wood is loosened, and the 

 trap falls over and kills him. This method appears to be very 

 successful. 



I would like to mention one perilous adventure with a " moun- 

 tain elephant," the killing of which would have formed such an 

 important zoological specimen to our collection of the district. 



It was the 4th of October. Raven and I heard the trampling 

 of elephants in a marshy meadow through which a small river 

 ran, and we quickly followed. The wind was unfavourable to 

 us, and so it was not possible to avoid detection. Suddenly, 

 trumpeting was heard, and the elephants broke away. The 

 immediate crackling of canes all around apprised me that I was 

 in the centre of the herd. Then all at once, twenty paces off, I 

 perceived the grey back of one of the animals. In spite of its 

 closeness it was useless for me to shoot until I was able to 

 distinguish clearly the vulnerable part of the head, denoted by 

 the upper half of the ear. Immediately I could do this I took 

 aim, but being under the impression that the fatal point for the 

 bullet was situated deeper, I lowered the muzzle of my gun a 

 little and let drive. The elephant swung round like lightning, 

 splintering the bamboo with his head, and made for me. As the 

 dense brushwood obscured the view, I jumped aside, crashing 

 through the cane into the shrub whilst the beast rushed past. 

 The troop of elephants, some of which had been behind me, were 

 attracted by the shot, and circled round me trumpeting. The 

 whole forest was in an uproar, and I saw bulky grey masses rising 

 up all round me. Shooting was not to be thought of, for it was 

 impossible to distinguish particular parts of the monsters' 

 anatomy whilst they were thus waltzing round. The turmoil 

 approached in my direction, and evidently the whole herd was 

 close at hand. The ensuing moments have no place in the agree- 

 able reminiscences of my travels ! A young animal with bad 

 tusks, and not worth shooting, came right up to my position, 

 remained standing five paces in front of me, and then passed me 



