PEKILS OF TI1E MOUNTED HUNTER. 



as the Dutch settlers very properly cnll these tor- 

 mentors, which environ him on all sides, but through 

 which the elephant crashes as if they were only so 

 many grass-stalks. Mr. Os well, indeed, met with a 

 mishap of this kind, and before he could roll him- 

 self out of the way of the elephant, the enraged 

 creature strode over his body, though, most fortun- 

 ately, without injuring him in any manner. 



The mounted hunter is exposed to other perils. 

 It happens occasionally that his horse becomes so 

 terrified at the sight and trumpeting of the ele- 

 phant, when the animal is in the act of charging, as 

 " to be transfixed to the spot to appear altogether 

 bewildered to spread out its legs, and to tremble 

 violently." A friend of mine was once placed 

 in this very awkward position, when the only 

 alternative left him was to dismount and take to 

 his heels. His horse also got o(f " scot-free," for 

 no sooner had the enraged elephant seized him 

 with his trunk than the spell was broken ; with a 

 frantic bound the terrified animal tore itself away 



species of thorny trees and bushes; and ;is the greater part of the 

 tliorns, or prickles, nre shaped on the fish-hook principle, each hook 

 being on the average capable of supporting a weight of seven pounds, 

 the reader can readily conceive the. consequences when H few score 

 of them lay hold of u man at once. \Vlieu travelling, they were ex- 

 ceedingly annoying. To say nothing of the injuries they inllicted on 

 onr persons, they tore to ribbons our clothes, our C.MMSSCS, and even 

 the pack saddle-bags, though made of .strong ox-hide. Once, 

 indeed, on returning to Hurmen, after a short absence, 1 possessed 

 hnrdly a decent article of clothing, and h.id not M. llahn, the 

 missionary, kindly taken pity on my forlorn condition. I am afraid 

 there would soon have been but little dill'erence between me and the 

 savage. 



