270 SAVAGE SUDAN 



ELEPHANTS IN THE SUDD 



Postscript. Above (p. 262) are mentioned the occurrence 

 of sporadic belts of terra firma within the 4OO-mile swamps 

 of the Sudd. That was originally written years ago, but 

 its accuracy was curiously confirmed during our voyage of 

 1919. In that year, one hour after sunrise on March 5th, 

 we were summoned by the cry of "elephants" the exact 

 spot I reserve for my own future investigation. Emerging 

 from heavy cane-jungle on the west bank, there strode in 

 Indian file ten elephants, daintily crossing an open space 



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 A. ELEPHANTS IN THE SUDD. March sth, 1919. 



some 100 yards in breadth. They were mostly females, though 

 two bulls carried curving ivories that looked like 60 to 70 

 Ib. the pair. With measured dignified gait, distinctly imposing 

 and with an almost perky carriage as feebly attempted in 

 Sketch A the ten elephants marched across, apparently 

 careless, or unconscious of our presence. Presently quite 

 separate, and far nearer, stood revealed a huge old bull stern- 

 on and somnolent. Then, in a flash, this solitaire awoke to 

 a sense of danger wheeled round facing and up aloft went 

 trunk and ears outspread. Marvellous was that transformation- 

 scene, possibly beyond all power of human pencil, however 

 skilled. Nevertheless not shamelessly but with deep sense 

 of shame I have attempted in sketches B and C to depict 

 what I saw in that moment ; first the monster quiescent, then 

 all alert and in explosive mood. Would that trained artist 



