266 THE ELEPHANT. 



found by the Bushmen, and their chief at the Lake 

 became the proprietor of a very fine pair of tusks." 

 The sagacity of the elephant is proverbial, and 

 instances innumerable are on record shewing his 

 superior intelligence. The Bushmen, and other 

 natives of South Africa, indeed, assert that, should 

 one of these animals happen to be eugulphed in a 

 pit-fall, his companions, not unfrequently, release 

 him from the toils. Strange as this story seems, yet 

 it is, nevertheless, in a great degree borne out by the 

 experiences of trustworthy authorities. 



" In many instances, during my peregrinations in 

 the interior," writes my friend Frederick Green, 

 " have I observed where elephants have tumbled 

 into the trap, and succeeded in getting free again. 

 In these cases it was quite evident that, had the 

 prisoner been left alone, he could not possibly have 

 extricated himself. How the others managed to 

 liberate him, it is difficult to surmise. But that there 

 is a great hubbub amongst them when one unexpect- 

 edly falls into the abyss is evidenced by the fact that 

 the ground about is torn up by their feet in rushing 

 to and fro. Traces near the edges of the pit may 

 also be observed where those that have come to the 

 rescue have stood. The one entrapped also exerts 

 himself to the utmost by breaking away the sides, 

 or ends, of the pit with his tusks." 



" But at times," my friend goes on to say, " the 

 elephant is precipitated head-foremost into the 

 trap, and then all help from his comrades appears 

 of no avail. This the latter appear to know, as 

 they hurry at once from the scene of the disaster, 

 and allow the unfortunate animal to perish." 



