KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



13 



then there was a perfect calm for a time, 

 holy, pure, and exciting in its peacefulness, 

 so different from the tumult which preceded 

 and succeeded it. The scene is stamped 

 upon my mind still, and will probably never 

 be effaced. 



But I have not yet mentioned the most 

 exquisite of all the scenes of that bright 

 evening. It was love that lent its charm to 

 the whole! I was the witness of the happi- 

 ness of two noble specimens of our race. I 

 had never seen the lady otherwise than with 

 her husband ; and therefore I looked upon 

 their love and relationship as a natural thing, 

 which did not interfere with me; and which, 

 if wise, I too could (afar off) participate in, 

 or at all events sympathise with. When I 

 saw her face shining in the pale moonbeams, 

 her sparkling eyes and black hair (contrast- 

 ing vividly with the pure whiteness of her 

 brow, and of her neck), and whilst 1 felt her 

 warm hand resting on my thinly covered 

 arm, I looked upon her as I looked upon 

 the landscape. She was an object of loveli- 

 ness, on which my eyes might feast, and 

 which memory might treasure in my heart, 

 but which nearer approach would probably 

 only sully or disturb. As I saw her gaze 

 directed towards the stars, and heard her 

 sigh, saying that she was sorry she had not 

 studied astrology (yes, sigh in the very 

 wantonness of happiness) ; and as I saw the 

 clear intelligent eye and brow of her husband 

 turned towards her, whilst a good-humored 

 smile played around his lips, I felt that we 

 require but a sensitive heart to enjoy the 

 happiness of others ; and he must have a 

 bad one who cannot see that happiness with- 

 out envy. 



T will now record the death of a wild 

 elephant. A more formidable thing than a 

 charge from one of these enraged animals 

 can scarcely be imagined. His trunk elevated 

 in the air, whilst he trumpets forth loudly 

 his rage or hatred, he shuffles his huge carcase 

 along at a pace more rapid than any one 

 would conceive possible when regarding the 

 unwieldy bulk of the animal alone. The 

 bushes bend before him as he advances — the 

 branches of the trees snap off with sharp, 

 rapid reports — the animals in the neighbor- 

 ing jungle, alarmed at the danger, hoot, 

 whoop, scream, cry, bellow, and roar to the 

 utmost, in alarm or in anger ; and the whole 

 welkin rings with the commotion. Our bag- 

 gage was of course flung down in all direc- 

 tions by the coolies, as they made for the 

 nearest trees. The elephant paused for a 

 moment over the articles strewed in his way, 

 but only for a moment ; and hurling a port- 

 manteau high in the air, advanced as before, 

 bellowing madly. The natives are of course 

 expert climbers, so that when he approached 

 all the coolies had made their way into the 



trees, and appeared to be perfectly safe — all 

 but one, who had still a leg within reach of 

 the monster's trunk when he reached the 

 tree in which the unfortunate man, paralysed 

 by fear, no doubt, was climbing. To the 

 others who surrounded him, and to us from 

 the brow of the neighboring hill, it appeared 

 that the man was sufficiently high in the tree 

 to prevent his being caught and dragged 

 down by the infuriated animal. Whether he 

 was so caught, however, or was only struck 

 and fell through excessive fear, certain it is 

 we saw him fall backwards on the uplifted 

 head of the elephant ! In a moment the 

 body of the unfortunate man was whirling 

 high in the air, and at length descended with 

 a frightful thump upon the ground, only to 

 be trampled immediately afterwards into a 

 shapeless mass ! His success in this instance, 

 whicli was all the work of a moment or two, 

 appeared but to increase the savage fury of 

 the monster. He rushed at the tree nearest 

 to him, into which two of the little band had 

 climbed, his broad forehead coming with 

 thundering force upon the trunk, and shaking 

 it in every twig, — he struck and dug at it 

 with his tusks — he grasped it with his trunk 

 — retreated to a little distance, and made 

 another assault with his broad, heavy fore- 

 head, butting as a ram would do against an 

 antagonist. 



Again was the tree shaken, every leaf 

 quivering violently ; but no sign of tumbling 

 about it. A slight list to one side was the 

 only perceptible result, — its occupants hold- 

 ing on for life all the time, and shouting 

 violently in the extremity of their fear, or in 

 the vain hope of frightening the animal away. 

 Whilst all this was proceeding, we were re- 

 loading the discharged barrels of our rifles ; 

 and, having mounted, drew off the attention 

 of the elephant from the coolies by shouting, 

 as we awaited him on our vantage ground, 

 on the brow of the hill. No sooner did the 

 enemy perceive us than he turned away from 

 the tree, which he seemed intent on bringing 

 down, and made directly for the spot on 

 which we were drawn up ready to receive 

 him. Our grooms had climbed high into the 

 largest tree in our vicinity. We were aware 

 that firing at random, or at any great distance 

 was useless, and that our only chance of 

 bringing him down lay in the accuracy of 

 our aim, and his proximity when we fired. 

 We therefore awaited his approach with 

 what calmness we could. 



Before the elephant had come within 

 range, however, " Uncle Toby, "my excellent 

 steed, took fright at the dreadful picture 

 before him, and, starting off, bore me with 

 frightful rapidity down the steepest part of 

 the hill's side. What became of Ilofer 1 did 

 not then know, although I heard the clear 

 ring of his rifle behind me as I was borne 



