GRAHAM'S TOWN. 75 



but darting into the covert where Thackwray stood, 

 in the act of reloading his gun, it knocked him down, 

 and thrust one of its tusks through his thigh, then, 

 lifting him up with its trunk, dashed him about with 

 the greatest violence, and, trampling upon him, 

 finished the work of destruction. When the mangled 

 body was discovered it presented the most appalling 

 spectacle. 



It is but an act of justice to the memory of this un- 

 fortunate man to state, that, during the journey on 

 which he accompanied me, he evinced so much kind- 

 ness of disposition, that the natives, to many of whom 

 he had been previously known, welcomed him with a 

 degree of cordiality and esteem highly creditable to 

 each party. His unassuming manners, his coolness 

 in the moment of danger, far removed from all fool- 

 hardiness, created a favourable impression on his 

 behalf. He was of low stature, a spare, bony young 

 man, whose sun-burnt features gave him the ex- 

 pression that belongs to a wanderer over the moun- 

 tains, whose life is a succession of perils. Few will 

 read his brief and mournful history without regret- 

 ting that experience so valuable, courage so un- 

 daunted, and fortitude so enduring, had not been 

 made subservient to higher aims than merely seeking 

 a scanty provision for the supply of his daily wants, 

 and that his end should have been so untimely and 

 distressing. 



