-•4 



A Dying Race of Giants 



nowadays ruthless marksmen will reach the mighty beasts 

 even in these islands of refuge — marksmen who shoot at 

 a venture with small-calibre rifles, and who find the dead 

 elephant later somewhere in the neighbourhood, with 

 vultures congregated round the corpse.^ 



Now perhaps I may have to wait in vain for hours, 

 days, and even weeks ! Some mornings there is abso- 

 lutely nothing to hd seen — the animals have gone down to 

 the lake to drink, or have taken refuge in one of the 

 little morasses at the toot of the hill. Judging by their 

 nocturnal wanderings it seems as if they must have other 

 accessible drinking-places in the vicinity. A search for 

 these places, however, is not to be thought of If I were 

 to penetrate to these haunts they would immediately note 

 my footsteps and take to flight for months, perhaps, 

 putting miles between themselves and their would-be 

 photographer. 



For to-day, at any rate, all is over. The sun only 

 breaks through the heavy masses of cloud for a few 

 minutes at a time, and great sombre palls of mist hang 

 over the forests, constantly changing from one shape to 

 another. 



To obtain a picture by means of the telephoto-lens 

 did not seem at all feasible. But a photo of bull-elephants 

 and giraffes together ! — so long as there was the faintest 

 chance of it I would not lose heart. It was not easy, 

 but I mtis^ succeed ! So, wet through and perishing with 



^ Experienced German hunters make a special plea for the use of rifles 

 of heavier calibre. Many English hunters are of the same opinion. 



539 



