310 THE ELEPHANT. 



panied by the rest of the troop, was soon lost to 

 view in the jungle. I hailed their departure with 

 rapture ; for, though I had failed in my object, I 

 felt heartily thankful that my life was saved. 



One morning when on a journey, principally de- 

 voted to geographical discoveries, while encamped 

 at a place called Hokahanja, in Damaraland, a native 

 suddenly " dropped in," and silently deposited at 

 ray feet a small branch of a thorn-tree. Any expla- 

 nation on the man's part was unnecessary; for, 

 after carefully examining the twig, which was much 

 jagged and cut by the marks of teeth, I at once 

 came to the conclusion that it had been torn from 

 its stem only a few hours previous by elephants. 

 I therefore merely inquired, " Where are they P and 

 how many in number ?" To the first of my queries 

 he replied by pointing to some low broken hills in 

 the neighbourhood ; to the second he could give no 

 precise answer. He had left some of his companions, 

 however, he told me, to watch the movements of 

 the animals. 



In some ten minutes, I was en route, duly 

 equipped. After a rapid and hot march of rather 

 less than two hours' duration, we saw the three na- 

 tives left as sentinels running towards us in fiery 

 haste, exclaiming, out of breath, " We have seen 

 them ! we have seen them ! there are three of 

 them ! But there " pointing to a small emi- 

 nence on which was posted one of their companions, 

 looking in the distance very much like a huge ba- 

 boon " you can see for yourself." I did not wait 

 to be told this twice, and had soon the satisfaction 



