Ill 
CAMPING AT MOUNT KENT A 
55 
with the carcases of their fellows scattered here and there 
through the forest ; so , we went on to the next patch, where 
there was another swamp. Having searched this through 
without finding any fresh spoor, I hesitated whether to perse¬ 
vere again to the Janjai valley or return to camp ; but one 
native being confident that we should find there to-day, we 
pushed on. As soon as we got over the intervening ridge, 
beyond which was another broad flat valley also with forest 
and scrub bordering a swamp, while on the far side were low 
open hills with kraals and cultivation at their base, elephants 
were seen in the bush below and close to its edge on our side. 
I at once commenced the campaign, getting first to lee¬ 
ward and then cautiously advancing. I easily got close up, 
and could see several, as they were standing in a most 
favourable position by trees where there was a small space 
comparatively open, while I was hidden by a screen of tall 
undergrowth ; but as one was much larger than the rest 
(evidently a big bull, though I could not see his tusks), I 
waited till he gave me a chance at the temple, and was lucky 
enough to drop him dead, killing a cow alongside of him 
similarly with the second barrel. Loading quickly I had 
time to knock over another cow before they ran. When 
taken quite by surprise in this way, if one can only manage 
to drop the first on the spot, its companions frequently give 
one the chance, before making up their minds what is the 
matter, to get in a second shot ; and possibly even, as in this 
case, should that also be successful, yet another. That is one 
great advantage of the head shot. If shot through the heart 
an elephant immediately rushes off, though only for a short 
distance, of course scaring any others with it. I have found, 
however, that though one can make pretty sure of dropping a 
cow if one gets a fair chance, the brain of an old bull is by no 
means so easily reached. The bull I had just shot, though 
large (I measured him as accurately as I could the next day, 
and made out his height to be about ten feet six inches), was 
