4 
AFRICAN HUNTING. 
in the very nick of time, settled me at once. My 
preparations were soon made ; my little all con¬ 
sisting chiefly of guns, rifles, saddles, ‘ et id genus 
omne.’ Perhaps the only expensive, and as it 
proved useless, part of my outfit, was seven deer¬ 
hounds, purchased from a keeper of Lord Pitz- 
william’s, for though Hotspur and Laddie were as 
good dogs as were ever slipped, they soon grew 
useless and died. The younger ones, being better 
acclimatised, did me some good service for a time, 
but they, too, soon succumbed to the climate, and 
taught me never again to take out what the country 
itself can furnish better. 
I landed in Natal, December 1851, after a ninety- 
two days’ passage. I was most anxious to be 
introduced to 6 Elephant White,’ as he was called, a 
great hunter; but whether he earned that title 
from his own elephantine proportions, six feet four 
inches, or from his prowess with the animal from 
which he derived his name, I have yet to learn. I 
believe he had been very successful formerly when 
elephants were more plentiful, but he had grown 
idle, and left the hard work to younger hands. 
This Mr. White was making preparations for a 
start into the Zulu country, hence my anxiety for 
an introduction. No such a thing, however, was 
needed in the Colony as it then was, and my dogs 
proved sufficient introduction to a brother sports¬ 
man. I made, I believe, some ridiculous offer, and 
joined the party; and such was my keenness for 
