SOUTH AFRICA FIFTY YEARS AGO 75 



lies very low, gives them the road, lets them pass well by, and 

 then resumes his interrupted way. If this is the king, he is 

 exceedingly courteous to his subjects one might even think 

 just a little in awe of some of them. King of the cats in Africa 

 he may be, and is ; but king of the beasts he is not. 



Come with me to a desert pool some clear moonlight night 

 when the shadows are deep and sharply cut, and the moon 

 herself, in the dry, cloudless air, looks like a ball. All is nearly 

 as bright as day, only the light is silver, not gold. Sit down on 

 that rock and watch the thirsty animals as they drink buffalo, 

 rhinoceros, antelope, quagga, and occasionally, if the water is 

 large, lions too. But what has frightened the antelope and 

 quagga that they throw their heads up for a second and fade 

 away into the shadows ? The other beasts, too, are listening, 

 and now leave the sides of the pond. Nothing but the inevit- 

 able, irrepressible jackal, that gamin amongst wild things, 

 remains in view. As yet your dull human ears have caught 

 no sound, but very soon the heavy tread, and low, rumbling 

 note of an oncoming herd of elephants reaches you. They 

 are at the water. The jackals have sat down with their tails 

 straight out behind them, but not another creature is to be 

 seen. The king drinks. Not a sound is heard. He squirts the 

 water over his back, makes the whole pool muddy, and retires 

 solemnly, leaving his subjects, who now gather round, to make 

 the best of what he has fouled. This is the king in the 

 opinion of the beasts. You may think him a nervous monarch, 

 subject to panic, and I do not know that you are not right ; 

 but he has weight in the animal world, you may be as- 

 sured. 



This African elephant is an uncomely, ragged fellow, with 

 his bad facial angle, huge ears, long fore-legs, sliced off 

 quarters, and generally untidy appearance ; but he carries 

 fine tusks, and often gives you a lot of trouble. I have 

 ridden nearly twenty miles on his spoor before coming up with 

 him, and liked him all the better for it. He is wanting in 

 ready wit, but is a wise, thoughtful being in his ponderous 



