276 



SAVAGE SUDAN 



February I7th deserves a note: "At 10.30 passed 

 within 100 yards of twenty-six elephants, mostly cows, 

 all egret-covered, but followed by two fair bulls. The 

 whole shore hereabouts was trampled down, the canes 

 smashed and broken off precisely at the height where 

 succulent growth begins. Ere I had completed this note 

 in diary, a second herd of nineteen was descried, and while 

 still watching these, a mile beyond, stood a cow and 

 calf; while only a few minutes later, and close by the 



"DISTURBED BUT NOT DISMAYED." 

 (Elephants near Malek, February I2th, 1913.) 



river, I espied the most magnificent bull-elephant I had 

 then seen. His tusks could not have scaled less than 

 200 Ib. the pair. In each case the elephants were attended 

 by egrets (Ardea bubulciis] ; indeed it is safe to say that 

 wherever these birds are seen hovering and alighting 

 among lo-foot canes, there also are elephants, otherwise 

 invisible among the tall covert." 



Another interesting interview: "On west, a herd of 

 thirty, with one big bull, some 200 yards back from 

 bank. When the ship was right abreast the whistle was 

 sounded gently. The herd retired ; but the bull hitherto 

 somnolent after erecting his huge ears to full stretch 



