158 ADVENTURES OF AN ELEPHANT HUNTER ch. xvi 
much more quickly in the chase than during the 
cooler seasons. 
In the rainy season (which usually extends from 
December until March), and, in fact, right on to the 
end of June, elephant hunting is beset with more 
difficulties and dangers. The giant grass, which 
grows rankly during the rains and attains its 
maximum height ere the end of March, offers 
almost impenetrable cover to all big game, until it is 
somewhat levelled by the action of sun and wind 
and the trampling of beasts, towards the end of 
May and beginning of June, when the natives start 
firing the bush. Besides, during the first six 
months of the year, all wild animals consort more 
together, and it is often extremely difficult, when 
hunting, to select the males from the females in the 
riotous luxuriance of the bush foliage, and especially 
in the tall, reedy grass which elephants love to 
frequent. 
With regard to big game hunting, especially that 
of elephants, I have at various times read, in books 
written by sportsmen, statements which are at 
variance with my experience. Some of these state¬ 
ments have passed unchallenged into the general 
currency of our everyday knowledge of the habits of 
the denizens of the wild. As I have spent so many 
years in what I might call close touch with these 
creatures and have had unique opportunities of ob- 
