FROM THE SHARI TO THE UBANGUI 205 



However, it is not such hard work as stalking smaller game 

 over rough ground, for the elephant path is generally free of 

 all obstacles and smooth-trodden as the track of a steam 

 roller, so it is merely a question of hard walking to catch up 

 with the herd. For five miles we raced along on the heels of 

 Umuru, and though sometimes we came to cross-paths he 

 never failed to find the right one. Now and again we saw 

 the places where an elephant had left the track to roll in 

 the grass or to break down some favourite shoot. Then 

 at last we knew that we were getting warm, for the dung 

 that lay at intervals on the path was still smoking, and 

 sure enough the next moment Umuru whispered, "Giwaf' 

 ("Elephants ! ") 



We could not see them, but heard their low trumpetings 

 and the cracking of tree branches. We paused breathless 

 for a moment or two before we advanced stooping to the 

 edge of the tall grass. There in a grove of small trees we 

 beheld a big male standing sentinel, while several females 

 with their young were feeding among the trees away on our 

 right. It was nearing sundown, and against the fading 

 Ught their bodies were silhouetted big and black upon the 

 green of grass and leaf. 



I know of no excitement to equal that of being confronted 

 in their wild state with such gigantic beasts. Instinctively 

 one grips the little rifle tighter in pigmy hands and holds 

 one's breath. 



Elephants are very blind, and this makes hunting them 

 much less dangerous than it otherwise would be, but their 

 sense of hearing is so extremely keen that one might almost 

 say that they can see with their ears. It is seldom that 



