I8II. RETURN OF THE ELEPHANT HUNTERS. 4J^1 
opiate, had probably no small share in diverting his thoughts from 
his irreparable loss, and in keeping him in generally good spirits. 
In six weeks from the day when the accident happened, I con- 
sidered the cure complete : the wound was covered over with a new 
skin, and the thumb and finger were reunited. The power and use 
of these returned but slowly ; yet ultimately they acquired their full 
strength, and were of so much service, that, in many instances, the 
loss of the rest seemed to be of no inconvenience. Here, then, I 
saw reason for rejoicing that I possessed neither the instruments 
nor the skill of a surgeon ; for, otherwise, my poor Hottentot would 
have been all the remainder of his life with a useless stump, instead of 
half a hand. 
On that unfortunate morning, the crows flocked round us in 
great numbers, attracted by our stock of dried meat ; pieces of which 
they carried off with astonishing audacity, though Gert was in sight, 
sitting within a dozen yards of them. It was for the purpose of 
driving these birds away that he fired off the gun. 
Being thus left without a servant, or any one to attend on Gert, 
I immediately despatched a Hottentot to Eland's Valley for Philip. 
This messenger made such good haste, that Philip returned with 
the waggon on the same day. 
2Srd. During the night Captain Berends and the elephant 
hunters came home from their expedition. They had shot twelve 
elephants, which, however, produced no more than two hundred 
pounds weight of ivory, as all the animals, excepting one, happened to 
be females, the tusks of which are much smaller than those of the 
males. They afterwards went to the Briquas (Bachapins,) to dispose 
of their beads ; but that nation would not receive them, nor enter 
into any trading at that season of the year, as they adhere scru- 
pulously to the belief, that bartering while their corn was in the ear, 
which, just at that time was the case, would occasion a bad harvest : 
and besides this, the Klaarwater people had thoughtlessly done that 
which rendered it still more impossible to have any dealings with 
them as long as the corn was standing : they had shot elephants. 
In consequence of this mistake, the Hottentots were obliged to 
3 Q 
