KOKAI—WILD ELEPHANTS. 115 



three kinds of rollers, Coracias abyssinica, C. pilosa, 

 and Eurystomus afer. The first I had found in places 

 on the highlands, the second I had once or twice seen 

 only, the third I had never previously met with. Here 

 all three were common. 



At Kokai, where we pitched our tents, there was a 

 small encampment of the Habab, and a very large herd 

 of camels. Many cattle had been brought into the 

 neighbourhood for pasture. The wild animals migrate 

 from the lowlands at this season like the men, and we 

 heard of wild elephants as soon as we arrived. 



The next day, July 10th, some men brought us news 

 of a herd in the neighbourhood, and on going out we 

 saw an elephant, to our utter astonishment, standing 

 amongst high bushes, with camels scattered around in 

 all directions. Some other elephants, it was uncertain 

 how many, were in higher jungle close by. The camels 

 had been grazing in the neighbourhood all the morning, 

 and the drivers had been shouting to each other and to 

 their animals. Certainly the elephants cared wonder- 

 fully little for the presence of domestic animals, or 

 even of men. 



"We lay still for some time and watched the huge 

 beast, which stood about 200 yards away, lazily munch- 

 ing leaves, or flapping its large ears. There was no 

 chance of approaching close, but by making a circuit we 

 reached within about sixty yards without being seen, 

 and Mockler fired a shell, which evidently hit, and the 

 elephant dashed into the jungle in front, issuing again in 

 front of us immediately after, followed by two other full- 



I 2 



