SEARCH FOR ELEPHANTS. 139 



of reeds and bamboo cane on the opposite side, grow- 

 ing to tlie height of fifteen feet. 



The men were tired and thirsty when we 

 reached the river. Having taken a good drink my- 

 self, I sat down and smoked a pipe under the shade 

 of a large tree, while Moloka, Chinsoro, and my guide 

 bathed and rested. We were now at least twenty 

 miles in a straight line from Pamquinda, and the sun 

 had passed the meridian at least a couple of hours. 

 Moloka said that if we were to cross the river after 

 elephants, we should not get back before morning ; 

 and we had nothing to eat. However, I determined 

 on walking a little way along the bank, knowing that 

 if there were any elephants about, they would have 

 been down to drink, and unless I should find fresh 

 spoor within half an hour, I decided to return. I 

 then walked about half a mile up the river, but no 

 spoor of elephants was to be seen, so I turned back. 

 Moloka was very indignant, and abused the Ajawah 

 to his heart's content. Still the man would not give 

 in, saying if we would only cross the river and go 

 with him into the reeds, he should soon show us ele- 

 phants. I was almost inclined to comply with his 

 request, he was so earnest in his entreaties and so po- 

 sitive of success, but Moloka was strongly against it. 



As we stood talking, the jnatter over, a distant 

 noise burst upon our ears, which made each of us ex- 

 claim—" What's that?" I replied, " Elephant." Mo- 

 loka said, "No, moomani " (man). But the Ajawah 

 said it was elephants. In breathless silence we lis: 

 tened for about five minutes, when the noise was 



