352 FEOM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



yards off in the scrub, above wbich only his back was visible. 

 Grosling was between him and the Lake, and the elephant was 

 down wind, so he quickly made a circuit and without any 

 difficulty got to within forty yards of the animal, which now 

 commenced raising his trunk restlessly as though he had 

 whiffed an enemy. So Gosling lost no time and let him have 

 it behind the shoulder, twice in quick succession. At the 

 second shot the beast rocked and reeled, and no doubt had 

 got his death, but for fear he might get into the Lake, Gosling 

 gave him two more below the eye, as he turned. These 

 apparently had no effect, and it took two more to bring him 

 finally to the ground. He was a fine animal, measuring 

 10 ft. from the shoulder, and 25 ft. in length from trunk to 

 tail. He carried rather bigger tusks than most of the Chad 

 elephants. 



After taking his photograph. Gosling sent back for the 

 oxen and camp kit, and also into Kowa for the population 

 to come out and get the meat. They arrived on the scene 

 the next day to the number of about sixty men, women and 

 children, and all set to work hacking at the elephant, some- 

 times burrowing right into the carcase, till every bit of meat 

 was cleared off the bones. Gosling describes the butchers' 

 work of the men with their spears and small knives as wonder- 

 ful to behold. It was not long before the carcase was reduced 

 to a clean skeleton, and the next day saw the scavengers 

 returning home, save two or three families who camped 

 upon the spot while they dried their share of the meat, 

 which they cut in long strips and hung out in the sun. 



By now, an extra bullock had been obtained to carry 

 the tusks, and Gosling struck camp on January 5, and, 



