ELEPHANT HUNT. 23 



fest. The march of the herd to and fro in their 

 umbrageous covert below, sounded not much unlike 

 the rolling of immense stones, making every thing 

 bend or break before them. The cracking of trees 

 and the falling of branches, together with the 

 hideous screams of the wounded, furnished terrific 

 proof of their fury, and of the havoc they were 

 making. Three out of their number were at length 

 brought to the ground, and several others severely 

 speared. I was frequently constrained to tremble 

 for the safety of the pursuers, whilst witnessing their 

 fearless advances towards the huge and irritated 

 victim, seeing that a slender lance constituted the 

 whole of their armour. To see them in a state of 

 perfect nudity boldly proceeding to within reach of 

 one of these powerful brutes, which, by a single 

 stroke of his proboscis, might have laid them 

 lifeless in the dust, could not but give rise to the 

 most serious apprehensions. Although crowds be 

 engaged in the chase on these occasions, the law 

 enables the man who first pierces the elephant to 

 claim both the honour and benefit of its death. The 

 latter, however, is but small, as he only gets one of 

 the tusks, the Chief laying claim to the other ; and 

 custom requires him to furnish a cow and ox for 

 slaughter at the close of the chase, which is usually 

 concluded with mirth and festivity. Of this feast, 

 no chief, I am told, is allowed to partake, because 

 the elephant is considered to be of equal rank with 

 the greatest of their chiefs. 



