THE ELEPHANT. 



" The very evening on which they obferved this huge animal, they 

 immediately determined to purfue it on horfeback ; though fo far were they 

 from being experienced and praclifed Elephant hunters, that they never before 

 had feen one of thefe animals. Their Horfes, though equally unaccuftomed 

 as their riders to the light of this coloflbs-like animal, did not flinch in the 

 lead. Nor indeed did the animal appear to give himfelf any trouble about 

 them, till they came within fixty or feventy paces of him; when one of them 

 at that moment, agreeable to the ufual manner of the Cape huntfmen, 

 jumping from his Horfe, and, fattening the bridle, fell upon one knee, and 

 with his left hand flicking his ramrod into the ground, and then refting his 

 gun upon it, took his aim and fired at the Elephant, which had then got 

 about forty or fifty paces farther off ; for, in this country, when they hunt 

 the larger kinds of animals, they commonly chufe to take the opportunity 

 of firing at the difiance of one hundred and fifty paces, both, becaufe the 

 ball, as they think, does moft execution at that diftance ; and alfo, that they 

 may gain time to mount their Horfes again, and ride off, before the wounded 

 animal can make up to them, to take his revenge. Our Iportfman had 

 fcarcely got into the faddle, and turned round his Horfe's head, before he 

 found that the Elephant was at his heels. At that very inliant, the animal 

 fet up a fhrill cry, which he imagined he felt pierce to the very marrow of 

 his bones ; and which occafioned his Horfe alfo to make feveral hafty leaps, 

 and then gallop off twice as fall as before. In the mean time, the huntfman 

 had fufficient prefence of mind to ride his Horfe up an afcent, well knowing 

 that Elephants are flow and unwieldy going up hill, in proportion to their 

 weight, and the contrary in defcending. By this means he not only gained 

 ground on his antagonill, but his companion had more time to advance on 

 one fide of the Elephant, where he imagined he could more eafily direcl his 

 fliot at the heart and larger arteries, connected with the lungs of the animal. 

 This fhot did not, however, hit in any dangerous part, as the Horfe was 

 rather unruly and pulled at the bridle, which the man had hanging over his 

 right arm, at the inliant that he had jumped off his horfe, and difcharged his 

 piece. The Elephant now turned upon this lafl antagonifl, but was foon 



