SOMALI KILLED BY AN ELEPHANT 



elephant, etc., and then moved on to the Harawa Valley, 

 when I was fortunate enough in securing more elephants 

 and lions. 



One day, having bagged six elephants, we had dis- 

 mounted and were standing round their bodies, admiring 

 our prizes, when suddenly we saw a little calf, about four 

 feet high, coming in our direction followed by a cow elephant. 

 The latter, on seeing us spread her ears at once and trumpet- 

 ing shrilly charged down on us. 



Knowing I had only one cartridge in my gun and there 

 was no time to reload, I reserved my fire. Just then a 

 Somali from an adjoining Karia, who had joined the hunt 

 and was standing a little way off, ran towards us for pro- 

 tection. 



The elephant, catching sight of him, gave chase at once 

 and before he had run a dozen yards picked him up and 

 killed him instantly, rolling him between her feet and 

 driving her tusks through his body. On our running up 

 and shouting at her, she left the man and made for us, charg- 

 ing most determinedly, when, with a lucky shot, I dropped 

 her dead, the bullet, striking her between the eyes, having 

 penetrated the brain. 



Our first thought now was for the injured man, but on 

 going up to him we found he was quite dead pummelled 

 absolutely, beyond all recognition. 



Meanwhile, the little calf, which had never left his 

 mother's side was trumpeting and squealing and charging 

 anyone who attempted to approach him. We tried to 

 secure him with ropes, but without success, and eventually, 

 though much to my regret, were obliged to abandon the 

 attempt. 



Often, in after years, when telling the tale of this 

 adventure, I have been blamed for failing to capture a 

 prize so rare as a young elephant, and no doubt by making 

 a greater effort, I might possibly have succeeded in securing 

 it. But, what with looking after my caravan, protecting 

 myself from unfriendly natives, etc., etc., I was not par- 

 ticularly anxious to increase my troubles and responsibilities 

 by adding an irascible little elephant to my establishment, 

 which was already as large as I could manage. 



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