164 TALES OF A NOMAD. 



them, for when the heart is set on elephants all minor 

 sporting temptations become insignificant 



I carried my double express, and my gun-bearer fol- 

 lowed me, carrying my heavy double barrel No. 8 

 smooth bore, loaded with eight drachms of powder and a 

 two-ounce spherical ball, hardened with tin, in each barrel. 



Progress through the jungle is tedious work. A Dyak 

 walked before me, lopping away branches with his 

 parang. Now and then we came to fallen trunks of 

 trees, over which we had to clamber, or else make a 

 detour to pass them, and in other places we were con- 

 stantly tripping over rattans and creepers of various 

 kinds. 



To my mind the elephant is an exceedingly easy 

 animal to kill, if you only go close enough to him and 

 are not afraid of him. However, if you do make a mess 

 of it and are charged by an elephant in a tropical jungle 

 it may be very awkward, for you stand in danger of being 

 tripped up or caught fast by the creepers. The elephant 

 can run straight through jungle which is impenetrable to 

 a man. It is therefore dangerous work. On the other 

 hand, there are generally large trees about, round which 

 a man can dodge an elephant, if he is able to reach a 

 tree in time. 



The leeches are the greatest nuisance. They are 

 especially voracious after a shower of rain. They adhere 

 to the leaves and wave their tails about. If you happen 

 to touch one he instantly leaves the leaf and clings to 

 you. 



I used invariably to wear putties tightly wound round 

 my legs, two pairs of thick socks, and to tie strings 

 round my coat at the wrists in order to prevent the 

 leeches ascending my arms. Notwithstanding these 



