Ill CAMPING AT MOUNT KENIA 55 



with the carcases of their fellows scattered here and there 

 through the forest ; so we went on to the next patch, where 

 there was another swamp. Having searched this through 

 without finding any fresh spoor, I hesitated whether to perse- 

 vere again to the Janjai valley or return to camp ; but one 

 native being confident that we should find there to-day, we 

 pushed on. As soon as we got over the intervening ridge, 

 beyond which was another broad flat valley also with forest 

 and scrub bordering a swamp, while on the far side were low 

 open hills with kraals and cultivation at their base, elephants 

 were seen in the bush below and close to its edge on our side. 



I at once commenced the campaign, getting first to lee- 

 ward and then cautiously advancing. I easily got close up, 

 and could see several, as they were standing in a most 

 favourable position by trees where there was a small space 

 comparatively open, while I was hidden by a screen of tall 

 undergrowth ; but as one was much larger than the rest 

 (evidently a big bull, though I could not see his tusks), I 

 waited till he gave me a chance at the temple, and was lucky 

 enough to drop him dead, killing a cow alongside of him 

 similarly with the second barrel. Loading quickly I had 

 time to knock over another cow before they ran. When 

 taken quite by surprise in this wa}-, if one can only manage 

 to drop the first on the spot, its companions frequently give 

 one the chance, before making up their minds what is the 

 matter, to get in a second shot ; and possibly even, as in this 

 case, should that also be successful, yet another. That is one 

 great advantage of the head shot. If shot through the heart 

 an elephant immediately rushes off, though only for a short 

 distance, of course scaring any others with it. I have found, 

 however, that though one can make pretty sure of dropping a 

 cow if one gets a fair chance, the brain of an old bull is by no 

 means so easily reached. The bull I had just shot, though 

 large (I measured him as accurately as I could the next day, 

 and made out his height to be about ten feet six inches), was 



