288 ftfn09 ot tbe 1Rofc, IRifle, anfc Gun 



affect him in the slightest ; he only acknowledged the 

 shots by a ( salaam-like ' movement of his trunk, with 

 the point of which he gently touched the wound with 

 a striking and peculiar action. Surprised and shocked 

 to find that I was only tormenting and prolonging the 

 sufferings of the noble beast, which bore his trials 

 with such dignified composure, I resolved to finish 

 the proceeding with all possible dispatch ; accordingly 

 I opened fire upon him from the left side, aiming 

 behind the shoulder; but even there it was long 

 before my bullets seemed to take effect. I first fired 

 six shots with the two-grooved, which must have 

 eventually proved mortal, but as yet he evinced no 

 visible distress ; after which I fired three shots with 

 the Dutch six-pounder. Large tears now trickled from 

 his eyes, which he slowly shut and opened ; his colossal 

 frame quivered convulsively, and, falling on his side, 

 he expired. The tusks of this elephant were beauti- 

 fully arched, and were the heaviest I had yet met with, 

 averaging 90 Ibs. weight apiece." 



Note the passages I have italicised, and then ask 

 yourself, gentle reader, what value you would put upon 

 the sentiment which enabled a man to sip his coffee 

 coolly and sit rhapsodising over the tortures of a wounded 

 beast when it was in his power in a moment to put the 

 creature out of its misery ! And then that affectation of 

 being surprised and shocked ! Faugh ! 



But perhaps even more disgusting than the incident 

 I have quoted is another, when, after shooting a gemsbok, 

 he calmly writes : " My thirst was intense, and the 

 gemsbok having a fine breast of milk, I milked her 



