_By_ ROUALEYN GORDON CUMMING
NOTE.--Mr. Cumming, a native of Scotland, was always passionately
fond of hunting. Even in boyhood he devoted most of his time to
sports of the field, and showed a great fondness for all forms of
natural history.
For a time he served in the English army in India, and hunted the
big game of those regions. However, he was not satisfied with this,
and after a visit to Newfoundland, which was more disappointing to
him, he went to Africa and there spent five adventurous years
hunting and exploring.
Throughout this time he kept a journal of his exploits and
adventures, and it is from this journal that he wrote his _A
Hunter's Life Among Lions, Elephants and Other Wild Animals of
South Africa_, from which the following selection is taken. We may
judge from his account that he did not find Africa as disappointing
as India and Newfoundland had proved.
His style is not that of a literary man, but he has the happy
faculty of presenting things in a very vivid manner, so that we are
willing to make some allowance for faults in style. He was
conscious of his weakness in this matter, and partially explained
it by saying, "The hand, wearied all day with the grasping of a
rifle, is not the best suited for wielding the pen."
On the 25th, at dawn of day, we inspanned, and trekked about five hours
in a northeasterly course, through a boundless open country sparingly
adorned with dwarfish old trees. In the distance the long-sought
mountains of Bamangwato at length loomed blue before me. We halted
beside a glorious fountain, which at once made me forget all the cares
and difficulties I had encountered in reaching it. The name of this
fountain was Massouey, but I at once christened it "the Elephant's own
Fountain." This was a very remarkable spot on the southern borders of
endless elephant forests, at which I had at length arrived. The fountain
was deep and strong, situated in a hollow at the eastern extremity of an
extensive vley,[386-1] and its margin was surrounded by a level stratum
of solid old red sandstone. Here and there lay a thick layer of soil
upon the rock, and this was packed flat with the fresh spoor of
elephants. Around the water's edge the very rock was worn down by the
gigantic feet which for ages had trodden there.
The soil of the surrounding country was white and yellow sand, but
grass, trees, and bushes were abundant. From the borders of the fountain
a hundred well-trodden elephant foot-paths led away in every direction,
like the radii of a circle. The breadth of these paths was about three
feet; those leading to the northward and east were the most frequented,
the country in those directions being well wooded. We drew up the wagons
on a hillock on the eastern side of the water. This position commanded a
good view of any game that might approach to drink. I had just cooked my
breakfast, and commenced to feed, when I heard my men exclaim, "Almagtig
keek de ghroote clomp cameel;" and, raising my eyes from the
sassaby[386-2] stew, I beheld a truly beautiful and very unusual scene.
From the margin of the fountain there extended an open level vley,
without a tree or bush, that stretched away about a mile to the
northward, where it was bounded by extensive groves of wide-spreading
mimosas. Up the middle of the vley stalked a troop of ten colossal
giraffes, flanked by two large herds of blue wildebeests and zebras,
with an advanced guard of pallahs. They were all coming to the fountain
to drink, and would be within rifle-shot of the wagons before I could
finish my breakfast. I, however, continued to swallow my food with the
utmost expedition, having directed my men to catch and saddle Colesberg.
In a few minutes the giraffes were slowly advancing within two hundred
yards, stretching their graceful necks, and gazing in wonder at the
unwonted wagons.
Grasping my rifle, I now mounted Colesberg, and rode slowly toward them.
They continued gazing at the wagons until I was within one hundred yards
of them, when, whisking their long tails over their rumps, they made off
at an easy canter. As I pressed upon them they increased their pace; but
Colesberg had much the speed of them, and before we proceeded half a
mile I was riding by the shoulder of the dark-chestnut old bull, whose
head towered high above the rest. Letting fly at the gallop, I wounded
him behind the shoulder; soon after which I broke him from the herd, and
presently, going ahead of him, he came to a stand. I then gave him a
second bullet, somewhere near the first. These two shots had taken
effect, and he was now in my power, but I would not lay him low so far
from camp; so, having waited until he had regained his breath, I drove
him half way back toward the wagons. Here he became obstreperous; so,
loading one barrel, and pointing my rifle toward the clouds, I shot him
in the throat, when, rearing high, he fell backward and expired.
This was a magnificent specimen of the giraffe, measuring upward of
eighteen feet in height. I stood for nearly half an hour engrossed in
the contemplation of his extreme beauty and gigantic proportions; and,
if there had been no elephants, I could have exclaimed, like Duke
Alexander of Gordon when he killed the famous old stag with seventeen
tine, "Now I can die happy." But I longed for an encounter with the
noble elephants, and I thought little more of the giraffe than if I had
killed a gemsbok or an eland.
In the afternoon I removed my wagons to a correct distance from the
fountain, and drew them up among some bushes about four hundred yards to
leeward of the water. In the evening I was employed in manufacturing
hardened bullets for the elephants, using a composition of one of pewter
to four of lead; and I had just completed my work, when we heard a troop
of elephants splashing and trumpeting in the water. This was to me a
joyful sound; I slept little that night.
On the 26th I arose at earliest dawn, and, having fed four of my horses,
proceeded with Isaac to the fountain to examine the spoor of the
elephants which had drunk there during the night. A number of the paths
contained fresh spoor of elephants of all sizes, which had gone from the
fountain in different directions. We reckoned that at least thirty of
these gigantic quadrupeds had visited the water during the night.
We hastily returned to camp, where, having breakfasted, I saddled up,
and proceeded to take up the spoor of the largest bull elephant,
accompanied by after-riders and three of the guides to assist in
spooring. I was also accompanied by my dogs. Having selected the spoor
of a mighty bull, the Bechuanas went ahead and I followed them. It was
extremely interesting and exciting work. The footprint of this elephant
was about two feet in diameter, and was beautifully visible in the soft
sand. The spoor at first led us for about three miles in an easterly
direction, along one of the sandy foot-paths, without a check. We then
entered a very thick forest, and the elephant had gone a little out of
the path to smash some trees, and to plow up the earth with his tusks.
He soon, however, again took the path, and held along it for several
miles.
We were on rather elevated ground, with a fine view of a part of the
Bamangwato chain of mountains before us. Here the trees were large and
handsome, but not strong enough to resist the inconceivable strength of
the mighty monarchs of these forests. Almost every tree had half its
branches broken short by them, and at every hundred yards I came upon
entire trees, and these the largest in the forest, uprooted clean out of
the ground, or broken short across their stems. I observed several large
trees placed in an inverted position, having their roots uppermost in
the air. Our friend had here halted, and fed for a long time upon a
large, wide-spreading tree, which he had broken short across within a
few feet of the ground. After following the spoor some distance further
through the dense mazes of the forest, we got into ground so thickly
trodden by elephants that we were baffled in our endeavors to trace the
spoor any further; and after wasting several hours in attempting by
casts to take up the proper spoor, we gave it up, and with a sorrowful
heart I turned my horse's head toward camp.
Having reached the wagons, while drinking my coffee I reviewed the whole
day's work, and felt much regret at my want of luck in my first day's
elephant hunting, and I resolved that night to watch the water, and try
what could be done with elephants by night shooting. I accordingly
ordered the usual watching-hole to be constructed, and, having placed my
bedding in it, repaired thither shortly after sundown. I had lain about
two hours in the hole, when I heard a low rumbling noise like distant
thunder, caused (as the Bechuanas affirmed) by the bowels of the
elephants which were approaching the fountain. I lay on my back, with my
mouth open, attentively listening, and could hear them plowing up the
earth with their tusks. Presently they walked up to the water, and
commenced drinking within fifty yards of me.
They approached with so quiet a step that I fancied it was the footsteps
of jackals which I had heard, and I was not aware of their presence
until I heard the water, which they had drawn up in their trunks and
were pouring into their mouths, dropping into the fountain. I then
peeped from my sconce with a beating heart, and beheld two enormous bull
elephants, which looked like two great castles, standing before me. I
could not see very distinctly, for there was only starlight. Having lain
on my breast some time taking my aim, I let fly at one of the
elephants, using the Dutch rifle carrying six to the pound. The ball
told loudly on his shoulder, and, uttering a loud cry, he stumbled
through the fountain, when both made off in different directions.
All night large herds of zebras and blue wildebeests capered around me,
coming sometimes within a few yards. Several parties of rhinoceroses
also made their appearance. I felt a little apprehensive that lions
might visit the fountain, and every time that hyaenas or jackals lapped
the water I looked forth, but no lions appeared. At length I fell into a
sound sleep, nor did I awake until the bright star of morn had shot far
above the eastern horizon.
Before proceeding further with my narrative, it may here be interesting
to make a few remarks on the African elephant and his habits. The
elephant is widely diffused through the vast forests, and is met with in
herds of various numbers. The male is very much larger than the female,
consequently much more difficult to kill. He is provided with two
enormous tusks. These are long, tapering, and beautifully arched; their
length averages from six to eight feet, and they weigh from sixty to a
hundred pounds each. In the vicinity of the equator the elephants attain
to a greater size than to the southward; and I am in the possession of a
pair of tusks of the African bull elephant, the larger of which measures
ten feet nine inches in length, and weighs one hundred and seventy-three
pounds. The females, unlike Asiatic elephants in this respect, are
likewise provided with tusks. Old bull elephants are found singly or in
pairs, or consorting together in small herds, varying from six to twenty
individuals. The younger bulls remain for many years in the company of
their mothers, and these are met together in large herds of from twenty
to a hundred individuals. The food of the elephant consists of the
branches, leaves, and roots of trees, and also of a variety of bulbs, of
the situation of which he is advised by his exquisite sense of smell. To
obtain these he turns up the ground with his tusks, and whole acres may
be seen thus plowed up. Elephants consume an immense quantity of food,
and pass the greater part of the day and night in feeding. Like the
whale in the ocean, the elephant on land is acquainted with, and roams
over, wide and extensive tracts. He is extremely particular in always
frequenting the freshest and most verdant districts of the forest; and
when one district is parched and barren, he will forsake it for years,
and wander to great distances in quest of better pasture.
The elephant entertains an extraordinary horror of man, and a child can
put a hundred of them to flight by passing at a quarter of a mile to
windward; and when thus disturbed, they go a long way before they halt.
It is surprising how soon these sagacious animals are aware of the
presence of a hunter in their domains. When one troop has been attacked,
all the other elephants frequenting the district are aware of the fact
within two or three days, when they all forsake it, and migrate to
distant parts, leaving the hunter no alternative but to inspan his
wagons, and remove to fresh ground. This constitutes one of the greatest
difficulties which a skilful elephant-hunter encounters. Even in the
most remote parts, which may be reckoned the headquarters of the
elephant, it is only occasionally, and with inconceivable toil and
hardship, that the eye of the hunter is cheered by the sight of one.
Owing to habits peculiar to himself, the elephant is more inaccessible,
and much more rarely seen, than any other game quadruped, excepting
certain rare antelopes. They choose for their resort the most lonely and
secluded depths of the forest, generally at a very great distance from
the rivers and fountains at which they drink. In dry and warm weather
they visit these waters nightly, but in cool and cloudy weather they
drink only once every third or fourth day. About sundown the elephant
leaves his distant midday haunt, and commences his march toward the
fountain, which is probably from twelve to twenty miles distant. This he
generally reaches between the hours of nine and midnight, when, having
slaked his thirst and cooled his body by spouting large volumes of water
over his back with his trunk, he resumes the path to his forest
solitudes. Having reached a secluded spot, I have remarked that
full-grown bulls lie down on their broad-sides, about the hour of
midnight, and sleep for a few hours. The spot which they usually select
is an ant-hill, and they lie around it with their backs resting against
it; these hills, formed by the white ants, are from thirty to forty feet
in diameter at their base. The mark of the under tusk is always deeply
imprinted in the ground, proving that they lie upon their sides. I never
remarked that females had thus lain down, and it is only in the more
secluded districts that the bulls adopt this practice; for I observed
that, in districts where the elephants were liable to frequent
disturbance, they took repose standing on their legs beneath some shady
tree.
Having slept, they then proceed to feed extensively. Spreading out from
one another, and proceeding in a zigzag course, they smash and destroy
all the finest trees in the forest which happen to lie in their course.
The number of goodly trees which a herd of bull elephants will thus
destroy is utterly incredible. They are extremely capricious, and on
coming to a group of five or six trees, they break down not unfrequently
the whole of them, when, having perhaps only tasted one or two small
branches, they pass on and continue their wanton work of destruction. I
have repeatedly ridden through forests where the trees thus broken lay
so thick across one another that it was almost impossible to ride
through the district, and it is in situations such as these that
attacking the elephant is attended with most danger. During the night
they will feed in open plains and thinly-wooded districts, but as day
dawns they retire to the densest covers within reach, which nine times
in ten are composed of the impracticable wait-a-bit thorns, and here
they remain drawn up in a compact herd during the heat of the day. In
remote districts, however, and in cool weather, I have known herds to
continue pasturing throughout the whole day.
The appearance of the wild elephant is inconceivably majestic and
imposing. His gigantic height and colossal bulk, so greatly surpassing
all other quadrupeds, combined with his sagacious disposition and
peculiar habits, impart to him an interest in the eyes of the hunter
which no other animal can call forth. The pace of the elephant, when
undisturbed, is a bold, free, sweeping step; and from the peculiar
spongy formation of his foot, his tread is extremely light and
inaudible, and all his movements are attended with a peculiar gentleness
and grace. This, however, only applies to the elephant when roaming
undisturbed in his jungle; for, when roused by the hunter, he proves the
most dangerous enemy, and far more difficult to conquer than any other
beast of the chase.
On the 27th, as day dawned, I left my shooting-hole, and proceeded to
inspect the spoor of my wounded elephant. After following it for some
distance I came to an abrupt hillock, and fancying that from the summit
a good view might be obtained of the surrounding country, I left my
followers to seek the spoor while I ascended. I did not raise my eyes
from the ground until I had reached the highest pinnacle of rock. I then
looked east, and, to my inexpressible gratification, beheld a troop of
nine or ten elephants quietly browsing within a quarter of a mile of me.
I allowed myself only one glance at them, and then rushed down to warn
my followers to be silent. A council of war was hastily held, the result
of which was my ordering Isaac to ride hard to camp, with instructions
to return as quickly as possible, accompanied by Kleinboy, and to bring
me my dogs, the large Dutch rifle, and a fresh horse. I once more
ascended the hillock to feast my eyes upon the enchanting sight before
me, and, drawing out my spy-glass, narrowly watched the motions of the
elephants. The herd consisted entirely of females, several of which were
followed by small calves.
Presently on reconnoitering the surrounding country, I discovered a
second herd, consisting of five bull elephants, which were quietly
feeding about a mile to the northward. The cows were feeding toward a
rocky ridge that stretched away from the base of the hillock on which I
stood. Burning with impatience to commence the attack, I resolved to try
the stalking system with these, and to hunt the troop of bulls with dogs
and horses. Having thus decided, I directed the guides to watch the
elephants from the summit of the hillock, and with a beating heart I
approached them. The ground and wind favoring me, I soon gained the
rocky ridge toward which they were feeding. They were now within one
hundred yards, and I resolved to enjoy the pleasure of watching their
movements for a little before I fired. They continued to feed slowly
toward me, breaking the branches from the trees with their trunks, and
eating the leaves and tender shoots. I soon selected the finest in the
herd, and kept my eye on her in particular. At length two of the troop
had walked slowly past at about sixty yards, and the one which I had
selected was feeding with two others, on a thorny tree before me.
My hand was now as steady as the rock on which it rested; so, taking a
deliberate aim, I let fly at her head a little behind the eye. She got
it hard and sharp, just where I aimed, but it did not seem to affect her
much. Uttering a loud cry, she wheeled about, when I gave her the second
ball close behind the shoulder. All the elephants uttered a strange
rumbling noise, and made off in a line to the northward at a brisk,
ambling pace, their huge, fan-like ears flapping in the ratio of their
speed. I did not wait to load, but ran back to the hillock to obtain a
view. On gaining its summit the guides pointed out the elephants; they
were standing in a grove of shady trees, but the wounded one was some
distance behind with another elephant, doubtless its particular friend,
who was endeavoring to assist it. These elephants had probably never
before heard the report of a gun, and, having neither seen nor smelt me,
they were unaware of the presence of man, and did not seem inclined to
go any further. Presently my men hove in sight, bringing the dogs and
when these came up, I waited some time before commencing the attack,
that the dogs and horses might recover their wind. We then rode slowly
toward the elephants, and had advanced within two hundred yards of them,
when, the ground being open, they observed us, and made off in an
easterly direction; but the wounded one immediately dropped astern, and
the next moment was surrounded by the dogs, which, barking angrily,
seemed to engross her attention.
[Illustration: WITH BEATING HEART I APPROACHED A VIEW]
Having placed myself between her and the retreating troop, I dismounted
to fire within forty yards of her, in open ground. Colesberg was
extremely afraid of the elephants, and gave me much trouble, jerking my
arm when I tried to fire. At length I let fly; but, on endeavoring to
regain my saddle, Colesberg declined to allow me to mount; and when I
tried to lead him, and run for it, he only backed toward the wounded
elephant. At this moment I heard another elephant close behind; and on
looking about, I beheld the "friend," with uplifted trunk, charging down
upon me at top speed, shrilly trumpeting, and following an old black
pointer name Schwart, that was perfectly deaf, and trotted along before
the enraged elephant quite unaware of what was behind him. I felt
certain that she would have either me or my horse. I, however,
determined not to relinquish my steed, but to hold on by the bridle. My
men, who of course kept at a safe distance, stood aghast with their
mouths open, and for a few seconds my position was certainly not an
enviable one. Fortunately, however, the dogs took off the attention of
the elephants; and just as they were upon me, I managed to spring into
the saddle, where I was safe. As I turned my back to mount, the
elephants were so very near that I really expected to feel one of their
trunks lay hold of me. I rode up to Kleinboy for my double-barreled
two-grooved rifle; he and Isaac were pale and almost speechless with
fright. Returning to the charge, I was soon once more alongside, and,
firing from the saddle, I sent another brace of bullets into the wounded
elephant. Colesberg was extremely unsteady, and destroyed the
correctness of my aim.
The friend now seemed resolved to do some mischief, and charged me
furiously, pursuing me to a distance of several hundred yards. I
therefore deemed it proper to give her a gentle hint to act less
officiously, and, accordingly, having loaded, I approached within thirty
yards, and gave it her sharp, right and left, behind the shoulder, upon
which she at once made off with drooping trunk, evidently with a mortal
wound. I never recur to this my first day's elephant shooting without
regretting my folly in contenting myself with securing only one
elephant. The first was now dying, and could not leave the ground, and
the second was also mortally wounded, and I had only to follow and
finish her; but I foolishly allowed her to escape, while I amused myself
with the first, which kept walking backward, and standing by every tree
she passed. Two more shots finished her: on receiving them, she tossed
her trunk up and down two or three times, and, falling on her broadside
against a thorny tree, which yielded like grass, before her enormous
weight, she uttered a deep, hoarse cry and expired. This was a very
handsome old cow elephant, and was decidedly the best in the troop. She
was in excellent condition, and carried a pair of long and perfect
tusks.
I was in high spirits at my success, and felt so perfectly satisfied
with having killed one, that, although it was still early in the day,
and my horses were fresh, I allowed the troop of five bulls to remain
unmolested, foolishly trusting to fall in with them next day. How little
did I then know of the habits of elephants, or the rules to be adopted
in hunting them, or deem it probable I should never see them more!
Having knee-haltered our horses, we set to work with our knives and
assagais to prepare the skull for the hatchet, in order to cut out the
tusks, nearly half the length of which, I may mention, is imbedded in
bone sockets in the fore part of the skull. To cut out the tusks of a
cow elephant requires barely one-fifth of the labor requisite to cut out
those of a bull; and when the sun went down, we had managed by our
combined efforts to cut out one of the tusks of my first elephant, with
which we triumphantly returned to camp, having left the guides in charge
of the carcass, where they volunteered to take up their quarters for the
night. On reaching my wagons I found Johannus and Carollus in a happy
state of indifference to all passing events: they were both very drunk,
having broken into my wine-cask and spirit-case.
On the 28th I arose at an early hour, and, burning with anxiety to look
forth once more from the summit of the hillock which the day before
brought me such luck, I made a hasty breakfast, and rode thither with
after-riders and my dogs. But, alas! I had allowed the golden
opportunity to slip. This day I sought in vain; and although I often
again ascended to the summit of my favorite hillock in that and in the
succeeding year, my eyes were destined never again to hail from it a
troop of elephants.
[Illustration]