THE SPORTSMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA. 6 1 



edge of the central portion of the ear ; but the mo_t vulnerable 

 point of any is the shoulder, for should the heart be missed the 

 bone may be smashed and the animal rendered helpless, and con- 

 sequently incapable of making away or charging. 



Old cows, and especially the "queens" (barren females), will be 

 found more difficult to deal with than the bulls, as they are always 

 ready to charge, even when unwounded, and experienced hunters 

 on finding one in a herd that seems inclined to prove troublesome, will 

 take the precaution of despatching her prior to engaging the bulls, 

 although her tusks may possibly be worthless. An infuriated 

 Elephant, when charging, utters shrill, trumpeting screams in quick 

 succession, and should one of its persecutors have the ill-luck to 

 be overtaken, these are continued until the remains of the unfor- 

 tunate individual present nothing but a pounded and unrecognisable 

 mass of flesh. In the winter months, when the dense cover (which 

 usually consists of the hack-thorn) is denuded of leaves, and much 

 resembles the leaden hue of the hide of these animals, it is extremely 

 difficult to distinguish one when motionless, no matter how close 

 at hand it may be. Like the Buffalo it often conceals itself when 

 wounded, waiting on its pursuers, who, intent only on tracing the 

 spoor, may unknowingly attain a degree of propinquity to the game 

 not by any means desirable. When the wind is favourable, if an 

 Elephant be startled and gets on the move before a shot can be fired, 

 it can with fair running be headed by the native attendants and driven 

 back towards the guns, a shout from the Kaffirs in advance being 

 generally sufficient to turn a whole herd. Even when on horseback 

 the first rush of these animals cannot alwa^siie avoided, but on settling 

 down to their ordinary pace, which is a quick walk, any fair runner 

 can on foot outpace them for a short distance, provided the country 

 is fairly open and the bush not too dense. 



Elephants are capable of ascending steep and rugged hills with 

 remarkable ease considering their bulk, and descend with great 

 speed and extraordinary agility. In the tropical portions of South 

 Africa the direction of the wind cannot be depended upon for any 

 length of time, and in this lies the chief difficulty in Elephant 

 hunting. As before remarked, they are able to scent a human 

 being at almost incredible distances, and on feeling the slightest 

 breath of tainted air will instantly start off and keep at a quick pace 

 for hours and hours without halting for an instant. On the other 

 hand, their sight is so wretched that if one were to stand perfectly 



