5 g THE ASIATIC ELEPHANT. 



I returned much disgusted to Kankar, and in the afternoon sent my camp to Kiinar, 

 while I a°-ain went along the foot of the hills to the ' nuV and ' burroo' jungle. About 

 half way along this I heard an Elephant in it, and went in after him. I got within twenty- 

 five yards, but the reeds were so high and thick, that I could hardly see him, and I think 

 he must have heard me, for he put up his trunk, and after looking uneasy for some time 

 moved off into the thickest reeds without giving me a chance : he had one large tusk. As 

 I was stalking him a Tiger roared in the reeds not far off. 



Next morning I hunted along the foot of the hills without seeing anything. During 

 some' showers of rain I rested in a ' BanjdrtXs ' hut opposite the centre of the ' md.' As 

 I was preparing to start again, an Elephant made his appearance at the edge of the reeds. 

 I at once went after him, but he moved into the jungle where it was so thick that I could 

 not get at him, and after following him a short distance I came out again and went round 

 to the other side, sending men up trees to watch him. 



Not seeino- anything of him for some time, I went back to where I had first seen him, 

 and found that he had taken up his old position at the edge of the reeds. Outside was a 

 level plain covered with short grass, and no tree or shelter of any kind near ; however, I 

 resolved to go up to him, trusting to my heavy rifle. Under cover of a slight angle in the 

 reeds I walked close up to him (I could have touched him with a fishing rod ! ) and stood 

 for a minute waiting for him to turn his head, and as he did so, fired between the eye and 

 ear. He stao-°-ered at the shot, and went blundering about, sinking down on his hind 

 knees. As he turned round, I aimed behind his ear with the double barrel, which was 

 quickly put into my hands, but the cap snapped, and he was too much turned away when I 

 o-ave him the second barrel. He then disappeared in the reeds, and having reloaded I 

 enquired from the men in the trees where he had gone to. They informed me that he was 

 movino- off very slowly, so I ran on, and turning down an open ride in the ' null headed 

 him. I heard him coming up very slowly, and as he halted in the ride, I fired at the orifice 

 of his ear from a distance of about fifteen paces. He seemed completely stupefied, and 

 stood stockstill ; my double rifle was handed to me, but as I was raising it a brute of a 

 o-un-carrier fired from behind me and struck the Elephant somewhere about the ear. 

 Round he came, and attempted to charge, but he was too much shaken, and rolled over 

 with a heavy crash. Up went his legs in the air, and I shouted Whoo- Whoop ! and ran up 

 to him. But I was too soon : his great head rose above the reeds, and I had just time to 

 give him a shot in the forehead as he regained his legs and charged. I dodged behind a 

 tree, and the Elephant went on. I reloaded and followed him with difficulty through a 

 tremendous thicket of reeds of various sorts, where it was impossible to move except in the 

 path which he had made, and which few animals but an Elephant could have forced their 

 way through. At length I again heard him in front of me, and on emerging from the cover 

 and ascending a slight rising ground I saw him moving slowly about among the reeds not 

 a hundred yards off. I could of course have easily hit him, but I would not fire, as 

 I expected him every minute to come out and give me a fair shot. There was no way of 

 netting at him in the impenetrable reeds, and at last, as it became dusk, I reluctantly left 



