CuAP. XXIII.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 205 



several little ones in their wake, were upon us, strid- 

 ing at their utmost speed, and trumpeting loudly 

 with uplifted heads. I rested my riQe against the 

 tree, and firing behind the shoulder of the leader, 

 she dropped instantly. Another large detachment 

 appearing close behind us at the same moment, we 

 were compelled to retreat, dodging fi'om tree to 

 tree, stumbling amongst sharp stones, and ever 

 coming upon fresh parties of the enemy. This 

 scene of ludicrous confusion did not long continue — 

 and soon approaching the prostrate lady, we put 

 an end to her struggles by a shot in the forehead. 

 Andries now came up in high good humour at his 

 achievements, and in the most bravado manner dis- 

 charged his piece into the dead carcass, under the 

 pretence that the animal was shamming. His object 

 evidently was to confound the shots — for thrusting 

 his middle finger into the orifice made by my two- 

 ounce ball, he with the most modest assurance 

 declared himself the author of the deed, being 

 pleased altogether to overlook the fact of the mortal 

 shot having entered the elephant on the side op- 

 posite to that on which he was stationed, and that 

 his own ball, whether designedly or not, had all but 

 expended my worthy and esteemed fellow-traveller. 

 On our way to the camp, of the exact position of 

 which we were uncertain, in consequence of the late 

 inundation, we passed three other large herds of 

 elephants. One of these standing directly in the 

 route, we attacked it, and pursued the fugitives 

 about a mile over loose stones. Much has been 



