FIRST ELEPHANT HUNT IN INDIA. 191 



many other varieties of Indian game, and our hearts 

 beat high with hope of what the morrow might bring forth. 

 For my own part, I was weary of the monotonous travel- 

 ing that had been our lot since we left Bombay. 



The next morning we started in the full expectation of 

 making the day memorable by an exploit. We struck the 

 mountains and kept along their base, as nearly as the 

 forest, which here began to be extremely thick and luxu- 

 riant, would permit. We had not proceeded more than 

 five miles, when, upon hearing like a crashing noise a 

 short distance in advance, we came to a halt, dismounted, 

 gave the bridles of our horses to our Parsees, and stole 

 forward cautiously to reconnoitre. The noise ceased al- 

 most at the same moment, as if our proximity was scented. 

 This caused us to move more noiselessly, and to watch 

 more keenly for the appearance of the animal. I first saw 

 the traces of an elephant in the broken branches of the 

 trees, which strewed the ground in front; and on 

 suddenly emerging from the thick forest, into what greatly 

 resembled a park, we beheld a single elephant, engaged 

 in twisting branches from a stately palm, within about 

 seventy yards from where we stood. As we stood behind 

 some luxuriant bushes, we could see through their thick 

 foliage without being seen, and we aimed with coolness 

 and precision, Mr. Barrill, at the elephant's shoulder, and 

 I at one of his eyes. Flash bang ! and we ran back to 



