A LARGE ELEPHANT'S MEASUREMENTS'. 229 



existence to gratify the passion for sport of a youth hardly out of his teens. 

 Nor had it had a fair chance. I had not faced it boldly and killed it in open 

 fight. It had not even seen its enemies, nor had a chance of retaliation. 

 Trackers from whom escape was as impossible as from blood-hounds had been 

 lU'ged in pursuit ; the most powerful weapons which science could place in 

 the hands of a sportsman, against which any other animal of creation would 

 have gone down at once, had been used for its destruction. Could I con- 

 gratulate myself greatly on my achievement ? The forest around was inde- 

 scribably grand. No sounds but those of Nature fell on the ear. The trees 

 were of immense proportions, and to their huge stems and branches numbers 

 of ferns and orchids of different kinds clung. Their trunks were moss- 

 grown and weather-beaten. The undergrowth consisted of ferns up to our 

 shoulders. Truly an elephant has a noble nature, and one may almost 

 believe he delights in the wild places he inhabits as much for their beauty 

 as for the safety they afford. He wanders from stream to hill-top, rubs his 

 tough hide against the mighty forest giants, and lives without fear, except of 

 man, his only enemy. What a bloodthirsty creature the self- constituted lord 

 of creation is ! Though impressed with the wild beauty of the creations of 

 Nature aroimd him, how his heart jumps at the sound of the game which he 

 has doomed to destruction ! and with Nature only as a witness, how he fear- 

 lessly raises his impious hand against her creatures ! 



Despite these and similar somewhat sad reflections, which must come 

 upon all sportsmen at times, I cannot look back upon this hunt but as one 

 of the most interesting and exciting I ever had. Its length, the alternations 

 of hope and misgiving as to the result, the final success, and the trophies I 

 won, make it stand first in my memory. 



This was the largest elephant, and possessed of the best tusks, of any I 

 have ever shot. The following are his measurements : — 



Vertical height at shoulder, 

 Length from tip of trunk to tip of tail, 

 Each showing out of gum 



f 



When taken out { "f^*' 

 TncVa ' ^ ^^^*' 



(Circumference at gum, 

 Wei,.. \^.^l\ 



Of course I was very liberal to the Kurrabas and others on this occa- 

 sion. To give an idea of the expense of such a trip, I add a list of what I 

 disbursed amongst them. The rupee is counted at two shillings : — 



