270 
SAVAGE SUDAN 
ELEPHANTS IN THE SUDD 
Postscript .—Above (p. 262) are mentioned the occurrence 
of sporadic belts of terra firma within the 400-mile swamps 
of the Sudd. That was originally written years ago, but 
its accuracy was curiously confirmed during our voyage of 
1919. In that year, one hour after sunrise on March 5th, 
we were summoned by the cry of “elephants”—the exact 
spot I reserve for my own future investigation. Emerging 
from heavy cane-jungle on the west bank, there strode in 
Indian file ten elephants, daintily crossing an open space 
A.—Elephants in the Sudd.—M arch 5th, 1919. 
some 100 yards in breadth. They were mostly females, though 
two bulls carried curving ivories that looked like 60 to 70 
lb. the pair. With measured dignified gait, distinctly imposing 
and with an almost perky carriage—as feebly attempted in 
Sketch A — the ten elephants marched across, apparently 
careless, or unconscious of our presence. Presently quite 
separate, and far nearer, stood revealed a huge old bull stern- 
on and somnolent. Then, in a flash, this solitaire awoke to 
a sense of danger—wheeled round facing—and up aloft went 
trunk and ears outspread. Marvellous was that transformation- 
scene, possibly beyond all power of human pencil, however 
skilled. Nevertheless—-not shamelessly but with deep sense 
of shame—I have attempted in sketches B and C to depict 
what I saw in that moment; first the monster quiescent, then 
all alert and in explosive mood. Would that trained artist 
