LAND AT LAST 4^5 



were both old and young animals, and, having had more 

 than enough of big ones, we decided to try for the two 

 smallest that we could see ; we thought we had no need 

 of more than two. As we lay waiting for them to turn 

 their heads and give us the chance of a good shot, we 

 had plenty of opportunity to watch them. They are 

 strange animals. They lay incessantly poking one an- 

 other in the back with their huo'e tusks, both the bio- 

 old ones and the little young ones. If one of them 

 turned over a little, so as to come near and disturb his 

 neighbor, the latter immediately raised itself, grunting, 

 and dug its tusks into the back of the first. It was by 

 no means a gentle caress, and it is well for them that 

 they have such a thick hide ; but, as it was, the blood 

 ran down the backs of several of them. The other 

 would, perhaps, start up too, and return the little at- 

 tention in the same manner. But it was when an- 

 other guest came up from the sea that there was a 

 stir in the camp; they all grunted in chorus, and one 

 of the old bulls that lay nearest to the new arrival 

 gave him some well-meant blows. The new-comer, how- 

 ever, drew himself cautiously up, bowed respectfully, and 

 little by little drew himself in among the others, who 

 also then gave him as many blows as time and circum- 

 stances would permit, until they finally composed them- 

 selves again, and lay quiet until another interruption 

 came. We waited in vain for the animals we had picked 

 out to turn their heads enough to let us get a good 



