SHOOT MY FIRST ELEPHANT 207 



failing, the case would have been rather bad. However, charging was far 

 from their thoughts ; right about, quick march, was more to their fancy ; 

 and with shrieks and trumpets away they went, some to the right, some to 

 the left, joined by the whole herd in one headlong race up or down the 

 nullah. But my tusker remained stone dead upon his knees ! The 

 triumph of such a success, attained unassisted and in my first inexperienced 

 attempt, quite transported me. Oh that one could retain the freshness of 

 one's first conquests in subsequent enterprises ! Of what account were toil, 

 expenditure of all my spare cash, danger undergone, and past ill-luck, in 

 that blissful moment ? My game had been outwitted by careful stalking 

 and a due admixture of caution and adventuring of our persons. The whole 

 herd was now in flight. I had succeeded beyond my wildest hopes ! 



My bullet had reached the tusker's brain, and in sinking down he must 

 have been supported by the bodies and legs of the elephants between which 

 he was wedged in ; thus he still remained on his knees though quite dead. 

 He retained his kneeling position for some minutes, when by the gradual 

 subsidence of his carcass he heeled over, and fell heavily on to his side. I 

 narrowly escaped being crushed between him and the bank as he sank, just 

 springing out of the way in time. It would have been a fine thing indeed 

 if, after bagging my first elephant, I had fallen a victim to the collapse of 

 his carcass ! 



As a rule, jungle-tribes only know the country thoroughly well in the 

 immediate vicinity of their dwellings, but within this limit every path, pool, 

 salt-lick, and favourite cover, is familiar to them. They can thus usually 

 tell where an animal will be found at any hour. Hence it is most desirable 

 to have them with a party whilst hunting in their respective localities, as 

 they are often able to save time by leaving the trail and leading the sports- 

 man by a more direct route to the place where the animals he is in quest 

 of are. It was for this reason that Bommay Gouda had brought the old 

 Sh5laga and his son along with us. The son had a pleasant and intelligent 

 face for a Shdlaga — they are generally hideously ugly — and I took a fancy 

 to him at once. Young though he was he tracked the elephants skilfully, 

 and behaved boldly. And now, eight years later, Gorrava is one of my 

 favourite jungle-men, and is employed in the kheddahs. We are confreres 

 against the bears, bison, &c., and many a good day's work have we done 

 " since first we met." Gorrava is tall, lithe, and active, with the lightest 

 step, the quickest eye, and the best judgment of the many good trackers I 

 know. That confidence between a sportsman and his hunters, so essential 

 to good and enjoyable shooting, has long been established between us. I 

 have perfect trust in Gorrava's ability to work out any trail, whilst he knows 



