_ 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 
agga that they throw their heads up for a second and fade 
ay into the shadows? The other beasts, too, are listening, 
d now leave the sides of the pond. Nothing but the inevit- 
le, irrepressible jackal, that gamin amongst wild things, 
mains in view. As yet your dull human ears have caught 
10 sound, but very soon the heavy tread, and low, rumbling 
note of an oncoming herd of elephants reaches you. They 
at the water. The jackals have sat down with their tails 
aight out behind them, but not another creature is to be 
‘seen. The king drinks. Nota 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 
e best of what he has fouled. This is the king in the 
inion of the beasts. You may think him a nervous monarch, 
ibject to panic, and I do not know that you are not right ;. 
he has weight in the animal world, you may be as- 
This African elephant is an uncomely, ragged fellow, with 
bad facial angle, huge ears, long fore-legs, sliced off 
ers, and generally untidy appearance ; but he carries 
tusks, and often gives you a lot of trouble. I have 
m, and liked him all the better for it. He is wanting in 
ady wit, but is a wise, thoughtful being in his ponderous 
