PACHYDERMATA. 177 



that obstruct the passage, whilst the females and 

 younger part of the herd follow in his wake. 



" Among the mimosa trees sprinkled over the mea- 

 dows, or lower bottoms, the traces of their operations 

 were not less apparent. Immense numbers of these 

 trees had been torn out of the ground, and placed 

 in an inverted position, in order to enable the ani- 

 mals to browse at their ease on the juicy roots, 

 which form a favourite part of their food. I ob- 

 served, that in numerous instances, when the trees 

 were of considerable size, the Elephant had employed 

 one of his tusks, exactly as we would use a crowbar, 

 thrusting it under the roots to loosen their hold of 

 the earth, before he attempted to tear them up with 

 his proboscis. Many of the larger mimosas had re- 

 sisted all their efforts ; and indeed, it is only after 

 heavy rains, when the soil is soft and loose, that 

 they can successfully attempt this operation. 



"While we were admiring these and other indica- 

 tions of the Elephant's strength and sagacity, we sud- 

 denly found ourselves, on issuing from a woody 

 defile, in the midst of a numerous herd of these 

 animals. None of them, however, were very close 

 to us ; but they were seen scattered in groups over 

 the bottom and sides of a valley two or three miles 

 in length ; some browsing on the succulent Spek- 

 boom, which clothed the skirts of the hills on either 

 side ; others at work among the young mimosas and 

 evergreens sprinkled over the meadows. As we pro- 

 ceeded cautiously onward, some of these groups 

 came more distinctly into view, consisting appa- 



i 5 



