336 
THE ELEPHANT. 
grass before lier enormous weight, uttered a deep, 
hoarse cry, and expired.” 
Dogs, in elephant-hunting, whether on horseback 
or on foot (with the exception, of course, when one 
is “ stalking”) I take to be the most valuable of 
auxiliaries; for by diverting the attention of the 
creature, the danger to the sportsman is very 
greatly lessened—that is, provided they do their 
duty; for if, in the event of the beast’s pursuing 
them, as is not unfrequently the case, they, instead 
of boldly facing the enemy, run for shelter to the 
heels of their owner, they only serve to increase his 
peril. A striking instance to this effect once oc¬ 
curred to Gordon Gumming, who, after telling us 
that the elephant he was in pursuit of, being sorely 
harassed by his dogs, had backed into cover, goes 
on to say : 
“ But I was not long in coming up with him, 
and running in, gave him two fine shots behind the 
shoulder. The dogs also gave tongue, and the 
consequence was a terrific charge, his tormentors 
(the dogs) at once making for their master, thus 
bringing the elephant right down upon me. I had 
no time to gain my saddle, but ran for my life. 
The dogs, fortunately, took off after Sunday (the 
horse), who, alarmed at the trumpeting, dashed 
frantically away ; and although, in the midst of a 
most dangerous affray, I could not refrain from 
laughing.” 
It is chiefly by the aid of dogs, which distract 
the elephant’s attention from themselves, that the 
Bushmen, and other natives of Southern Africa, are 
