THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
the eyes, otherwise it must pass above the brain. I have myself hit several 
charging elephants with a round four-ounce bullet fired from a muzzle- 
loading smooth-bore gun, just between the eyes; but, although I always 
stopped them, I never killed or even knocked one down. I have also shot 
a number of charging elephants, with the same big -bore gun, through 
the trunk below the tusks, and in the chest; and in my experience, every 
charging elephant I ever hit, either in the head or chest as it was coming 
on, always immediately stopped screaming and swerved off. Whether the 
small nickel-coated bullets of a modern cordite rifle would have the same 
effect or not, I cannot say, but in 1885 I stopped the charge of a badly 
wounded and very savage bull elephant in thick bush with a solid leaden 
bullet fired from a black-powder rifle of *461 bore. This elephant came 
on trumpeting loudly, but immediately the bullet struck it, it stopped 
screaming and swerved off. A solid bullet, however, fired from a modern 
cordite rifle, passes through anything it hits with such enormous velocity 
that it may not have the same effect of a severe blow as the heavy spherical 
leaden bullets fired from black-powder large-bore guns and rifles un- 
doubtedly gave. When a vicious elephant comes running out of a herd, 
trumpeting loudly, looking for, but not having exactly located, its enemy, 
it usually holds its trunk high in the air; but when it actually charges or 
chases a man or horse, it — usually, at any rate — drops its trunk, holding 
it straight down in front of its chest with the point curved inwards. At 
least, when hunting elephants on horseback in Mashonaland many years 
ago, I noted on several occasions that elephants’ trunks were held in this 
position when they charged and chased one of my mounted companions. 
It sometimes happens that when following an elephant one suddenly 
comes in view of its hind quarters at a distance of only a few yards. The 
long grass or dense thorn bush may be so thick that it is impossible to 
leave the elephant path along which one has been walking. The wind may 
be shifty, and the huge beast one has perhaps been following for hours 
may suddenly become aware of one’s near proximity, and either crash off 
through the thick bush in front of it or swing round and charge without a 
moment’s hesitation. Under such circumstances, two courses are open 
to one. Either one must retreat quickly and noiselessly, and give the 
elephant time to move forwards into more favourable country before 
again approaching, or one must try and put a bullet into its spine. This 
shot, however, must be accurate, or the wounded beast may spin round 
and be down upon its assailant like an avalanche. 
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