134 
In the Heart of Africa 
Great wooden frame structures weighted with stones are set up 
at a spot where the buffaloes go to drinks in such a way that when 
the buffalo touches the water a piece of wood is loosened^ and the 
trap falls over and kills him. This method appears to be very 
successful. 
I would like to mention one perilous adventure with a “ moun¬ 
tain elephant/’ the killing of which would have formed such an 
important zoological specimen to our collection of the district. 
It was the 4th of October. Raven and I heard the trampling 
of elephants in a marshy meadow through which a small river 
ran^ and we quickly followed. The wind was unfavourable to 
us, and so it was not possible to avoid detection. Suddenly, 
trumpeting was heard, and the elephants broke away. The 
immediate crackling of canes all around apprised me that I was 
in the centre of the herd. Then all at once, twenty paces off, I 
perceived the grey back of -one of the animals. In spite of its 
closeness it was useless for me to shoot until I was able to 
distinguish clearly the vulnerable part of the head, denoted by 
the upper half of the ear. Immediately I could do this I took 
aim, but being under the impression that the fatal point for the 
bullet was situated deeper, I lowered the muzzle of my gun a 
little and let drive. The elephant swung round like lightning, 
splintering the bamboo with his head, and made for me. As the 
dense brushwood obscured the view, I jumped aside, crashing 
through the cane into the shrub whilst the beast rushed past. 
The troop of elephants, some of which had been behind me, were 
attracted by the shot, and circled round me trumpeting. The 
whole forest was in an uproar, and I saw bulky grey masses rising 
up all round me. Shooting was not to be thought of, for it was 
impossible to distinguish particular parts of the monsters’ 
anatomy whilst they were thus waltzing round. The turmoil 
approached in my direction, and evidently the whole herd was 
close at hand. The ensuing moments have no place in the agree¬ 
able reminiscences of my travels! A young animal with bad 
tusks, and not worth shooting, came right up to my position, 
remained standing five paces in front of me, and then passed me 
