232 
TEAVELS IN CENTEAL AEEICA. 
spear^ having either a log of ebony or a lump of clay 
on the end of it_, is thrown by the hunter from the 
branch of a tree^ perpendicularly on to the elephant, 
when taking his midday siesta. When in a favourable 
position, the spear penetrates deeply into the carcase 
of the animal, and he soon expires. A smile from 
the dear wife welcomed me back, and a pressure from 
the shrunken hand, too thin now to retain the little 
gold ring, that for the time is worn by myself. 
October ^Zrd . — The weather is evidently breaking ; 
some fair sunny days we have experienced, and the 
rain when it falls is not so heavy. I rode out, shot^ 
a guinea-fowl, and noticing a fine tree — of what de- 
scription I know not, but not an Adamsonia — I dis- 
mounted to measure its circumference, and found it 
twenty-four feet. 
October Z^th. — While, as on the previous days, out 
shooting, two of our marauders returned, and an- 
nounced that their companions were approaching 
with cattle, sufficient to defray our expenses here, 
and to admit our departure hence. No other casu- 
alty occurred than the loss of one man, in an elephant 
hunt. 
A herd having been fallen in with, a straggler was 
shot down. Two of the men stopped to reload, but 
the third hunter, disregarding precautions, impru- 
dently hurried on to be in at the death. When but a 
few yards from him, the infuriated beast regained his 
