192 CAPRICIOUS TEMPEK. 



heard what was the result of the pursuit, whether they 

 found and killed, or lost. I was lame for nearly three 

 weeks afterwards, as the thorn was poisonous. 



The temper of the elephant seems to fluctuate in even a 

 greater degree than that of man. Sometimes a herd are 

 unapproachable from savageness, at others they are the 

 greatest "curs" in creation. I had received so many 

 warnings from the elephants frequenting the Natal bush 

 elephants, as I before remarked, particularly savage, from 

 knowing the strength of their jungle, that I used every 

 precaution in approaching them, and always acted as 

 though a fierce and determined charge were to follow the 

 report of my gun. I believe that I frequently ran a 

 hundred yards after firing, when there was no occasion for 

 doing so ; but I am convinced that on one or two occasions 

 this little exercise saved me from feeling the weight of an 

 elephant's foot. 



Being across the Umganie with Monyosi and his dog 

 one day in search of buck, I found the elephants in very 

 bad "fettle." "We had been sitting under a tree in a 

 little open glade in the centre of the bush, and Monyosi 

 was relating some of his adventures while in the Pongola 

 country, elephant-shooting, he having lately returned from 

 this trip. 



In the centre of this glade there was a pond of water 

 that the elephants frequently used for a bath, or to drink 

 from. We had seen no fresh traces of either buffalo or 

 other large game for some days, and in consequence we 

 supposed they had journeyed up the coast for a change. 



I had brought a small double-barrelled gun, instead of 



