AN ELEPHANT HUNT. 235 



knowledge of the world we live in, with all its wonderful svs- 

 tern of adaptations, that we may praise God more heartily, 

 and adore him more devoutly for his wisdom and goodness, 

 and prefer the keeping of his love. 



As the journey extended the country became more and more 

 beautiful and abounding in large game. On the 14th of De- 

 cember, in a lovely valley, they came upon a buffalo, and while 

 attempting to secure him, found themselves suddenly confronted 

 by three elephants, one of which Dr. Livingstone managed to 

 cripple by a first shot. This one they then easily killed. The 

 next day was distinguished by a grand elephant-hunt, in which 

 the devoted followers engaged to " show their father what sort 

 of men he had." Although scenes of the kind were only pain- 

 ful to Livingstone, and possessed of none of the charm which 

 causes the ordinary traveller to revel in stories of slaughter, 

 he has still furnished a thrilling account of this exploit of his 

 men. 



He had retired from the noise of the camp, where the men 

 were cutting up the elephant which he had shot the day before, 

 that he might make an examination of some rocks, when glanc- 

 ing casually across the valley he saw a pair of elephants, a fe- 

 male and her calf, quietly enjoying themselves by the side of a 

 little stream, and beyond them a long line of his men, who 

 were manifestly approaching their unsuspecting victims with no 

 good intentions. The noble creature, totally " unconscious of the 

 approach of an enemy, stood for some time suckling her young 

 one, which seemed about two years old ; they then went into a 

 pit containing mud, and smeared themselves all over with it, 

 the little one frisking about his dam, flapping his ears and 

 tossing his trunk incessantly, in elephantine fashion. She kept 

 flapping her ears and wagging her tail as if in the height of 

 enjoyment. Then began the piping of her enemies, which was 

 performed by blowing into a tube, or the hands closed together, 

 as boys do into a key. They call out to attract the animal's 

 attention, 



" 'O chief! chief! we have come to kill you. 



O chief! chief! many more will die besides you,' etc. 

 ' The gods have said it,' etc., etc. 



Both animals expanded their ears and listened, then left their 

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