824 
THE ELEPHANT. 
and, if he is espied, make a considerable detour, 
and try to get to leeward of him. When the wea¬ 
ther is hot, the elephant does not run far before 
again halting; even when wounded repeatedly, he 
will only run a short distance at a time. I have 
killed elephants hours after they have been first 
w T ounded. 
Use a heavy rifle w 7 ith a large bullet; such as are 
conical and steel-pointed are preferable to all others. 
Never attack an elephant in an open and ex¬ 
posed situation, unless you delight in deliberately 
risking your own life. 
As almost everything depends on the first shot, 
get as close as the locality admits of to the animal, 
—twenty-five to thirty yards is my own distance, 
but get nearer if it be practicable. 
As regards the African elephant, at least, the 
shoulder, or immediately behind it, in the region of 
the heart, is, in my opinion, the best point at which 
to aim. Never fire at the forehead unless the beast 
charges; for, though a well-directed shot there will 
probably have the effect of causing him to swerve 
from his course, it will not once in twenty times 
(for the reasons given in the first chapter) prove fatal. 
Avoid cows with calves, also bulls accompanying 
them, as these are usually very savage. 
When an elephant is seen cocking his ears and 
erecting his trunk, it is best to give him a wide 
berth for a while, as he is then more than usually 
dangerous to approach. 
Jn following the spoor of a wounded elephant 
■—and the remark equally applies to the lion, the 
