206 THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT. 
seen by casual travellers, owing to its great vigilance and its wonderful power 
of moving through the tangled forests without noise and without causing any 
perceptible agitation of the foliage. In spite of its enormous dimensions, it 
is one of the most invisible of forest creatures, and a herd of Elephants, of 
eight or nine feet in height, may stand within a few yards of a hunter without 
being detected by him, even though he is aware of their presence. 
The Kaffirs are persevering elephant hunters, and are wonderfully expert 
in tracking any individual by the “spoor” or track, which is made by its 
footsteps. The foot of a male is easily to be distinguished by the roundness 
of its form, while that of the female is more oval, and the height of the animal 
is also ascertained by measurement of the footmarks, twice the circumference 
of the foot being equal to the height at the shoulder. 
BASES — Spe a = =<SJ\ 
AFRICAN ELEPHANT. —(Loxudonta Africana.) 
The death of a large Elephant is great matter of congratulation among the 
natives, who rejoice at the abundant supply of food which will fall to their 
share. Almost every portion of the animal is used by the Kaffirs, whose 
strong jaws are not to be daunted by the toughest meat, and whose accom- 
modating palates are satisfied with various portions which would be rejected 
by any civilized being. 
Some portions of the Elephant are, however, grateful even to European 
palates, and the foot, when baked, is really delicious. This part of the 
animal is cooked by being laid in a hole in the earth, over which a large fire 
has been suffered to burn itself out, and then covered over with the hot earth. 
Another fire is then built on the spot, and permitted to burn itself out as 
before, and when the place is thoroughly cool, the foot is properly cooked. 
The flesh of the boiled foot is quite soft and gelatinous, something resem- 
bling calf’s head, and is so tender that it can be scooped away with a spoom 
