Elephant Characteristics. 161 



The most dangerous elephants to shoot are herd bulls, as 

 the cows with calves often charge at the shot, and these 

 young bulls are not such staid, easy-going fellows as their 

 larger brethren, which usually prefer their own company or 

 the companionship of one or two chosen comrades. In 

 their old age they get morose, and probably do not wish to 

 be troubled with family affairs. It is impossible to say how 

 long an elephant will live, but I believe some must attain an 

 age of over 150 years. An elephant is probably not full 

 grown until he is close on fifty years, and his tusks probably 

 keep on growing for a much longer time. 



When a man has shot a really big elephant he has 

 probably shot an animal that was roaming the wilds before 

 he saw the light of day, and to see such an animal fall 

 always reminds me of seeing some monarch of the forest 

 sink down before the implements of man. Elephants drink 

 daily, and they travel long distances for water in the dry 

 season, and often do not drink twice consecutively at the 

 same water where they are much molested. If an elephant 

 is killed, the others will leave the locality for a time, as 

 they seem to dislike the smell. 



Smell is the strongest sense in elephants, and I am sure 

 they will scent human beings at about three-quarters of a 

 mile if the wind is strong and steady. Such being the 

 case, the direction of the wind has to be carefully studied 

 before trying to approach elephants for a shot. Their 

 sight is very bad indeed, and if a man moves slowly, and 

 keeps still when the animal is looking in his direction, 

 he can go up and smack an elephant's body on occasions. 

 Some tribes such as the Ndorobo of British East Africa 

 kill elephants with poisoned spears, and to do this they 

 approach within a few feet. 



When near elephants one will often hear the flapping of 

 their ears ; also strange rumblings made by their digestive 

 organs, I think. At times they emit shrill cries, and I once 

 heard a wounded bull crying like a child. 



If an elephant had been wounded and closely approached, 

 and becomes aware of the proximity of the hunter, he will 



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