NATURAL HISTORY. 173 



on their broadsides, about the hour of midnight, and sleep for 

 a few hours. The spot which they usually select is an ant- 

 hill, and they lie around it with their backs resting against 

 it ; these hills, formed by the white ants, are from thirty to 

 forty feet in diameter at their base. The mark of the under 

 tusk is always deeply imprinted in the ground, proving that 

 they lie upon their sides. 



" The appearance of the wild elephant is inconceivably 

 majestic and imposing. His gigantic height and colossal 

 bulk, so greatly surpassing all other quadrupeds, combined 

 with his sagacious disposition and peculiar habits, impart to 

 him an interest in the eyes of the hunter which no other 

 animal can call forth. The pace of the Elephant when undis- 

 turbed is a bold, free, sweeping step ; and from the peculiar 

 spongy formation of his foot, his tread is extremely light and 

 inaudible, and all his movements are attended with a peculiar 

 gentleness and grace. 



" The under skin is of a tough and pliant nature, and is 

 used by the natives for making water bags, in which they 

 convey supplies of water from the nearest vley or fountain 

 (which is often ten miles distant). They remove this inner 

 skin with caution, taking care not to cut it with the assagai ; 

 and it is formed into water-bags by gathering the corners 

 and edges, and transfixing the whole on a pointed wand." 



SKULL 015" THE ELEPHANT. 



