368 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
the thorny boughs, although they were tinged 
with blood, yet seemed so matted together, 
that it was apparently quite impossible that 
any living creature could haye passed through 
them. So dense, indeed, were these parts of 
the bush, that we were delayed several minutes 
at each, in forcing our way through. This dif- 
ficulty was explained, however, by reflecting 
that, as the wounded animal forced her huge 
horns through the bush, the elastic branches, 
first giving way, then flew back behind her 
with greater force, as she crashed along, and 
thus, meeting together they matted again more 
closely than before. In one of the densest of 
these deep labyrinths of the forest, we sud- 
denly came upon the skull and skeleton of a 
very large elephant ; thus shewing that, at no 
very distant period, these creatures had found 
shelter there. 
After about an hour's search and u spooring" 
we at length came upon its object, lying near 
to where she had been left a few hours before. 
Our approach to her was timely indicated to 
us by the furious barking of our dogs, to- 
gether with the discordant voices of the Hot- 
tentots, shouting and yelling at them, joined 
with the violent crashing of boughs and bushes. 
We now proceeded to take up our position, and - 
prepare for the bloody onslaught. We placed 
