108 EXPEDITION INTO 



ward along- the mountain chain^ returned to our encampment 

 for horses and ammunition. 



Leaving* the wag-g-ons to proceed to a spot agreed upon, 

 we ag'ain took the field about ten o'clock, and pursued the 

 track indefatig-ably for eig-ht miles, over a country presenting- 

 every variety of feature. At one time we crossed bare 

 stony ridg-es, at another threaded the intricacies of shady 

 but dilapidated forests ; now strug-g-led throug-h hig-b fields 

 of waving- g-rass, and ag-ain emerg-ed into open downs. At 

 leng-th we arrived among-st extensive g-roups of g-rassy hil- 

 locks, covered with loose stones, interspersed with streams, 

 and occasional patches of forest, in which the recent ravag-es 

 of elephants were surprising-. Here, to our inexpressible 

 g-ratification, we descried a larg-e herd of those long--soug-ht 

 animals, lazily browsing at the head of a distant valley, 

 our attention having- been first directed to it, by the strong* 

 and not to be mistaken effluvia with which the wind was 

 impregnated. Never having before seen the noble elephant 

 in his native jungles, we gazed on the sight before us with 

 intense and indescribable interest. Our feelings on the 

 occasion even extended to our followers. As for Andries, 

 he became so agitated that he could scared}^ articulate. With 

 open eyes and quivering- lips he at length stuttered forth 

 " Dar stand de olifant." Mohan3Tom and 'Lingap were 

 immediately despatched to drive the herd back into the 

 valley, up which we rode slowly, and without noise, against 

 the wind ; and arriving within one hundred and fifty yards 

 unperceived, we made our horses fast, and took up a com- 

 manding position in an old stone kraal. The shouting 

 of the savages, Avho now appeared on the height rattling 

 their shields, caused the huge animals to move unsus-, 

 piciously towards us, and even within ten yards of our 

 ambush. The group consisted of nine, all females with 

 large tusks. We selected the finest, and with perfect 



