simple weapons, to meet the mightiest animal of
the creation in hand-to-hand conflict. The horses
hoofs clattered as we descended the shingly beach,
and forded the river shonlder-deep, through the
rapid current, while those on foot clung to the
manes of the horses, and to the stirrup-leathers, to
steady themselves over the loose stones beneath.
Shortly after our arrival upon the opposite side,
we came upon numerous antelopes of the nellut
(H. Strepsiceros) and tetel (H. JBubcilis). I would not
fire at these tempting animals as we were seeking
nobler game.
Tracking was very difficult; as there was a total
absence of rain, it was next to impossible to distinguish
the tracks of two days’ date from those
most recent upon the hard and parched soil; the
only positive clue was the fresh dung of the elephants,
and this being deposited at long intervals
rendered the search extremely tedious. The greater
part of the day passed in useless toil, and, after
fording the river backwards and forwards several
times, we at length arrived at a large area of sand
in the bend of the stream, that was evidently overflowed
when the river was full; this surface of
many acres was backed by a forest of large trees.
Upon arrival at this spot, the aggageers, who appeared
to know every inch of the country, declared
that, unless the elephants had gone far away, they
must be close at hand, within the forest. We were
speculating upon the direction „of the wind, when
we were surprised by the sudden trumpet of an
elephant, that proceeded from the forest already declared
to be the covert of the herd. In a few
minutes later, a fine bull elephant marched majestically
from the jungle upon the large area of
sand, and proudly stalked direct towards the river.
At that time we were stationed under cover of
a high bank of sand that had been left by the
retiring river in sweeping round an angle; we immediately
dismounted, and remained well concealed.
The question of attack was quickly settled; the elephant
was quietly stalking towards the water, which
was about three hundred paces distant from th e.
jungle : this intervening space was heavy dry sand,
that had been thrown up by the stream in the
sudden bend of the river, which, turning from this
point at a right angle, swept beneath a perpendicular
cliff of conglomerate rock formed of rounded
pebbles cemented together.
I proposed that we should endeavour to stalk the
elephant, by creeping along the edge of the river,
under cover of a sand-bank about three feet hio-h and^m-t hat, should the rifles fail, the aggageers shoOu ld^
come on at full gallop, and cut off his retreat from
the jungle; we should then have a chance for the
swords.
Accordingly, I led the way, followed by Hadji
Ali, my head Tokroori, with a rifle, while I carried
the “ Baby.” Florian accompanied us. Having the
wind fair, we advanced quickly for about half the