334 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



by a singular species of rat, whose continual laughing was sorely 

 perplexing and uncanny. They were so numerous that n atight 

 sleep was impossible, on account of their boldness in scampering 

 over the men, and their loud, unceasing "he I he ! he !" almost 

 exactly like a human laugh. Any effort to get rid of them was 

 certain to be followed by a most diabolical "he-he-ing," so 

 weird as to be suggestive of the infernal regions. 



AMONG ELEPHANTS. 



LIVINGSTONE was now in the elephant country again, and every 

 day there was some adventure with these animals. One morning 

 the launch ran into a herd that was bathing in the river, and 

 so frightened were they that a young one was caught. Its 

 screams attracted the dam, which came immediately to the rescue 

 of her calf ; but ropes were thrown over the little one so quickly, 

 while the vessel moved off rapidly, that she was left behind. The 

 little fellow was brought on board and soon became quite friendly, 

 but, unfortunately, one of the natives employed on the boat had 

 cut his proboscis during the capture, from which it died after 

 several days. 



On the same day a large female elephant was killed, and as it 

 was then growing late a halt was made for the night. The ele- 

 phant was cut up, a big fire lighted, and a royal feast began. 

 Says Livingstone : " We had the elephant's forefoot cooked for 

 ourselves in native fashion. A large hole was dug in the ground, 

 in which a fire was made : and when the inside was thoroughly 

 heated, the entire foot was placed in it, and covered over with 

 the hot ashes and soil ; another fire was made above the whole, 

 and kept burning all night. We had the foot thus cooked for 

 breakfast next morning, and found it delicious. It is a whitish 

 mass, slightly gelatinous, and sweet, like marrow. A long march, 

 to prevent biliousness, is a wise precaution after a meal of ele- 

 phant's foot. Elephant's trunk and tongue are also good, and, 

 after long simmering, much resemble the hump of a buffalo and 

 the tongue of an ox ; but all the other meat is tough and, from 

 its peculiar flavor, only to be eaten by a hungry man. The quan- 

 tities of meat our men devour is quite astounding. They boil a 



