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in the van of his troop, the great bull Elephant bursts through the heaviest jungle, with the same facility that a bullock 
would make its way through a hop-garden, trampling under his heavy foot the thorny brushwood, and with his sinewy pro- 
boscis summarily wrenching off the larger branches, and tugging away the parasitic web that obstructs his progress; whilst the 
females, with the younger members of the herd, bringing up the rear in single file, complete the Herculean labour which 
their lord has so ably commenced, . 
But, notwithstanding the extravagant traditions that have been handed down of the colossal stature attained in Africa by 
*Hature’s great master-piere,” [ am strongly disposed to the belief, that twelve feet form the maximum height of the male, 
and nine that of the female. Readily might the stupendous bulk of such an animal deceive an eye unaccustomed to its con- 
templation ; but twice the circumference of none of the many foot-prints I measured, among the hundreds which were daily 
seen, yielded a product in excess of this standard. In Africa the tusks of the male unquestionably attain a much greater size 
than is usual in Asia, and nearly all of the cows are possessed also of these accessories, measuring from three to four feet 
in length. The enormous magnitude of the ears—which in the subject before us not only cover the whole of the shoulder, 
but overlap each other at the neck, to the complete exclusion of a driver — together with the increased volume and promi- 
nence of the forehead, constitute the most striking external features of difference between the two species.* Nor will those 
who have been accustomed to the sight of a groomed and well-greased elephant in his stall, fail to view with astonishment the 
brick-dust complexion of the animal's hide in its native forest—this latter fact being attributable to the collection of adyen- 
titious matter by rubbing against trees and rocks, tio less than to the habit peculiar to the whole race, of dusting the carcase 
after a cold bath, with a shower of earth and gravel cast up by the aid of the trunk. 
On first entering the haunts of the elephant, nothing surprised me more than the extraordinary facility with which, in a 
wild state, uninenmbered by the bowdah, the unwieldy quadruped contriyes to clamber to the very rigging of the steepest and 
most inaccessible hills —dexterously traversing narrow mountain paths, descents, and gullies, over which a horse can follow 
with extreme difficulty—and like a sculptured monument, standing out at last in the boldest relief against the clear blue sky. 
Solemn and dignified in his ordinary gait, the long slouching amble to which he has recourse when pursued, covers the ground 
at an inconceivable rate, and will at first keep a good steed at a round gallop; but the tracts over which we usually hunted, 
being flinty, and strewed with loose pointed stones, it was only necessary to press the herd a mile beyond their speed, to 
render them so tender-footed that they were glad to seek shelter in the first wooded ravine that fell in their way,—up and 
down which they might be driven, and murdered from the banks ad Hibitum. That portion of the forehead lying immediately 
above the eyes, consists of two walls or tables, between which a wide cellular space intervening, a bullet hardened either with 
tin or quicksilver readily penetrates through the honeycomb to the cavity of the brain— proving so instantaneously fatal that 
the unfortunate animal often passes from life to death, without either a groan or a struggle. Guided usually by some mon- 
strous male, long adage in years, it is not easy to separate the herd; and whether they attack, march, or fly, they appear 
to act with discipline, and in concert. Their enormous bulk and power considered, there is probably no creature in the 
creation possessed of a smaller share of animal courage; yet, if easily terrified and relia: they never hesitate when rovsed 
into fury to charge the assailant with persevering hostility, and although turning clumsily upon a wide circle, not unfrequently 
conclude the pursuit by playing a game of foot-ball with his lifeless body. 
From the very outset of our campaign against the wild beasts, and long before we had obtained from his Amazooloo 
Majesty the freedom of his tropical preserves, our respectable acquaintance, Andries Africander, had gratuitously assumed unto 
himself the office of lecturer on the intricate science of elephant hunting, wherein, during three successive expeditions with 
ivory frndeks from the colony, he flattered himself to have acquired no ordinary skill, A day never elapsed without some 
gasconade of his by-gone or coming exploits; but although perpetually thrusting upon us his code of sage laws on the subject, 
we subsequently fonmd that the impostor was uniformly the first to infringe it. Whilst winding through a grand and exten- 
sive forest which covered a slight acclivity leading to the Cashan mountains, we for the first time beheld the vestigia of the 
noble object of our search, Mimosa trees were there up-torn by the roots; sturdy branches rent from the parent stock over- 
hnng the path, or stripped of their foliage were strewed upon | the ground; and hundreds of deep holes, impressed during some 
recent heavy rain by the feet of a gigantic drove, together with great heaps of their fresh excrement, were visible in every 
direction. Heretofore our sapient tutor had affected to consider beneath Ais notice all animals that had been found; and at 
the near prospect now presented of displaying his science to advantage, he became perfectly frantic. Checking the team of 
the waggon which he was leading, he waved aloft his greasy blue cap, tossed a mass of dung into the air, and huzzaed - till 
he was hoarse. 
* The Asiatic Elephant has been employed fram the earliest epochs, to swell the pomp of eastern princes and potentates—his enormous strength and sur- 
paseing sagacity having been equally applied to warlike, ostentatious, and laborious purposes, In ancient days the African species also would appear to have been 
extensively employed by the Carthaginians, who during the first Punic war brought great multitudes against the Romans; insomuch that at the siege of Panorma 
(Palermo) no fewer than one hundred gnd forty are said to have been drawn up in 4 single line. But whilst the barbarous tribes that people Southern Africa 
have never dreamt of the possibility of rendering this noble animal serviceable in any domestic capacity, the assertion that it is capable of being tamed and 
ridden, is received with universal incredulity — an unaccountable superstition, existing even amongst the Dutch Colonists, that its subjugation is not to be accom- 
plished. Readily captured, and appearing to agree with its Indian relative both as to essential habits, and in aptitude for service, it isin the general absence, 
within the Colony, of sufficient food for its support, that the chief difficulty is presented. Were it once atrayef against the beasts of the forest, Afriea would 
realize the very beau ideal of magnificent sport! 
