ELEPHANTS 163 



Length exposed from gum, 4 ft 7 ins. ; widest distance 

 apart in curve, 2 ft. 6 ins. ; between tips, 2 ft. 2 ins. 



The longer tusk of my brother's big bull measured 

 6 ft. 2h ins., by 16 ins. girth. This pair weighed 93 lbs., 

 one tusk being broken at the tip ; those of the third 

 bull 44 lbs., and of the cow 28 lbs. : total, 302 lbs. 



With regard to the latter, neither my brother nor 

 I had shot at an animal of the wrong sex, the bull- 

 elephants being easily distinguished from cows, even as 

 seen from astern, by their superior height — towering an 

 apparent fourth over the females. This unfortunate 

 animal had undoubtedly received her wound in the first 

 instance from Mabruki's reckless shot. Grievous to 

 add, she was followed by a well-grown calf, about 

 4 ft. high. This we endeavoured to capture, but the 

 toto proved altogether too big. On our approach, the 

 determined little beastie (it must have w^eighed half-a- 

 ton I) came on in most savage style, cocking his ears 

 and screaming, till we were fain to leave him alone. 

 We heard him calling during that night, but by 

 morning he had gone. 



Immediately the shooting was over, I discharged 

 Mabruki on the spot, taking the rifle from him and 

 landing him a brace, right-and-left, on his snub nose to 

 drive the lesson home. Next time I saw him, six weeks 

 later, he was working in a docker-gang on the wharves 

 of Mombasa. The punishment seemed severe — the fall 

 from gun-bearer at twenty-five rupees a month to labourer 

 at six — and for a moment I relented ; but second thoughts 

 clinched the matter. Mabruki was totally disqualified 

 to act as gun-bearer, and should never have been rated 

 as such. Already, within two months, his want of 

 nerve and self-control had twice placed ns in jeopardy, 

 and he should not have the chance of doing the same 

 to others. Nor should East-African shooting-agents 

 " sign on " gun-bearers unless they have reasonable 

 certainty in believing such to be safe and reliable men. 



The last view we had of our elephants, they 

 were slowly retiring northwards through the scattered 



