34 TUSKS OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT. 



and the elephant rolled over on his left side, that on 

 which he was hit ; the other instantly charging about 

 seventy yards in the wrong direction. I at once re- 

 loaded and approached the fallen animal, which 

 proved to be quite dead. On getting up on him to 

 look round for the one that had made off, I fancied 

 that he had pulled up in some long grass about a 

 hundred yards off, and with uplifted trunk was look- 

 ing back for his prostrate companion. My second 

 gun was nowhere to be seen, but I at once com- 

 menced stalking the second elephant, and had got 

 within from twenty to twenty-five yards of him un- 

 perceived, when " bang !" went Mr. Young's big gun, 

 and away went the elephant straight from me with a 

 shrill trumpet. The grass here was so long that I 

 could not see more than a few yards round, but there 

 could be no doubt as to the direction I ought to take, 

 for the band of natives whom I had left in' company 

 with Mr. Young were yelling and roaring like de- 

 mons. At first I feared an accident had happened, 

 but the words '' Waffa! wafFa !" (dead ! dead!) which 

 they repeated with admiration, soon striking my ear 

 amidst the din of voices, relieved my fears. On ar- 

 riving at the spot, I found them rejoicing over the 

 elephant / had killed, Mr. Young having discharged 

 the wall-piece into its abdomen. Examination show- 

 ed a good shot in the temple. The animal was a 

 bull, and had perfect tusks, about four feet long. So 

 far I had satisfactory proof that the African elephant 

 may be shot in the brain through the temple. On cut- 

 ting out the tusks, however, I found that they were dif- 

 ferently placed from those in the head of the Indian 



