It Was Most Difficult Ground For Stalking, Being Entirely Open, On A
Spot Which Had Been High Lemon Grass But Recently Burnt, The Long Reeds
In Many Places Still Remaining.
We could not get nearer than fifty yards in such ground, and I
accordingly tried a shot at his temple with the four-ounce.
The long
unburnt stalks of the lemon grass waving to and fro before the sights of
my rifle so bothered me that I missed the fatal spot, and fired about
two inches too high. Stumbling only for a moment from the blow, he
rushed down hill towards a jungle, but at the same instant Palliser made
a capital shot with the long two-ounce and knocked him over. I never saw
an elephant fall with such a crash: they generally sink gently down; but
this fellow was going at such speed down hill that he fairly pitched
upon his head.
We arrived at our resting-place, and having erected the tents, we gave
them up to Banda and the servants, while we took possession of a large
'amblam', or open building, massively built by the late Major Rodgers,
which is about twenty-five feet square. This we arranged in a most
comfortable manner, and here we determined to remain for some days,
while we beat the whole country thoroughly.
Dec. 6.-We started at our usual early hour with Banda and the
trackers, and after a walk of about a mile, we found fresh tracks and
followed up.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 324 of 343
Words from 86110 to 86361
of 91283
