A GIGANTIC ELEPHANT 



129 



trunks, whilst the young ones crept beneath their mothers' 

 bodies. For a few moments they gazed at the bold intruder, 

 and then an old mother began slowly to advance upon him, 

 making us a little anxious. But Qualla fired into the air 

 once or twice and the herd turned tail, still seeming in no 

 hurry to be off. He then rushed at them, shouting and firing, 

 and the same old mother turned upon him again as if half- 

 minded to charge. But, as we were glad to see, nothing came 

 of it all. The herd quickened their pace and tramped off, 

 soon disappearing from our sight, whilst we resumed our 

 march. 



A SCENE FROM ELEPHANT HOME LIFE. 



Soon afterwards I heard shots in front of us. The Count 

 had come upon more elephants, and presently I made out 

 a number of herds against a little wood fringing the plain. 

 The shooting continued and the hunt was evidently in full 

 swing. I hastened on and came upon the vanguard halting^ 

 near the first elephant brought down by the Count, which lay 

 in the open and was the biggest animal we had yet come across, 

 its tusks, which were of equal length, weighing some 228 lb. 



The Count had followed up the rest of the animals inland, 

 and I therefore decided to camp here. We soon found a 



VOL. II. K 



