Mine fell dead, but the other fell, and, recovering
himself immediately, he escaped in the thick jungle.
This was bad luck, and we returned towards the 'amblam' to breakfast. On
our way there we found that the 'rogue' had concealed himself in a piece
of thick jungle, backed by hills of very high lemon grass. From this
stronghold we tried to drive him, and posted ourselves in a fine
position to receive him should he break cover; but he was too cunning to
come out, and the beaters were too knowing to go in to drive such bad
jungle; it was, therefore, a drawn game, and we were obliged to leave
him.
When within a short distance of the 'amblam', a fine black partridge got
up at about sixty yards. I was lucky enough to knock him over with a
rifle, and still more fortunate in not injuring him much with the ball,
which took his wing off close to his body. Half an hour afterwards he
formed part of our breakfast.
During our meal a heavy shower of rain came down, and continued for
about two hours.
In the afternoon we sallied out, determined to shoot at any large game
that we might meet. We had lately confined our sport to elephants, as we
did not wish to disturb the country by shooting at other game; but
having fired in this neighbourhood during the morning, we were not very
particular.
We walked through a lovely country for about five miles, seeing nothing
whatever in the shape of game, not even a track, as all the old marks
were washed out by the recent shower. At length we heard the barking of
deer in the distance, and, upon going in that direction, we saw a fine
herd of about thirty. They were standing in a beautiful meadow of about
a hundred acres in extent, perfectly level, and interspersed with trees,
giving it the appearance of an immense orchard rather thinly planted.
One side of this plain was bounded by a rocky mountain, which rose
precipitously from its base, the whole of which was covered with fine
open forest.
We were just stalking towards the deer when we came upon a herd of wild
buffaloes in a small hollow, within a close shot.
Palliser wanted a pair of horns, and he was just preparing for a shot,
when we suddenly heard the trumpet of an elephant in the forest at the
foot of the rocky mountains close to us.
Elephants, buffaloes, and deer were all within a hundred yards of each
other: we almost expected to see Noah's ark on the top of the hill.
Of course the elephants claimed our immediate attention. It was
Palliser's turn to lead the way; and upon entering the forest at the
foot of the mountain, we found that the elephants were close to us. The
forest was a perfect place for elephant-shooting. Large rocks were
scattered here and there among the fine trees, free from underwood;
these rocks formed alleys of various widths, and upon such ground an
elephant had no chance.
There was a large rock the size of a small house lying within a few
yards from the entrance of the forest. This rock was split in two
pieces, forming a passage of two feet wide, but of several yards in
length. As good luck would have it, an elephant stood exactly on the
other side, and, Palliser leading the way, we advanced through this
secure fort to the attack.
On arrival at the extreme end, Palliser fired two quick shots, and,
taking a spare gun, he fired a third, before we could see what was going
on, we being behind him in this narrow passage. Upon passing through we
thought the fun was over. He had killed three elephants, and no more
were to be seen anywhere.
Hardly had he reloaded, however, when we heard a tremendous rushing
through the forest in the distance; and, upon quickly running to the
spot, we came upon a whole herd of elephants, who were coming to meet us
in full speed. Upon seeing us, however, they checked their speed for a
moment, and Palliser and Wortley both fired, which immediately turned
them. This was at rather too long a distance, and no elephants were
killed.
A fine chase now commenced through the open forest, the herd rushing off
pele mele. This pace soon took us out of it, and we burst upon an open
plain of high lemon grass. Here I got a shot at an elephant, who
separated from the main body, and I killed him.
The pace was now so great that the herd fairly distanced us in the
tangled lemon grass, which, though play to them, was very fatiguing to
us.
Upon reaching the top of some rising ground I noticed several elephants,
at about a quarter of a mile distant upon my left in high grass, while
the remaining portion of the herd (three elephants) were about two
hundred yards ahead, and were stepping out at full speed straight before
us.
Wortley had now had plenty of practice, and shot his elephants well. He
and Palliser followed the three elephants, while I parted company and
ran towards the other section of the herd, who were standing on some
rising ground, and were making a great roaring.
On arriving within a hundred yards of them, I found I had caught a
'Tartar'. It is a very different thing creeping up to an unsuspecting
herd and attacking them by surprise, to marching up upon sheer open
ground to a hunted one with wounded elephants among them, who have
regularly stood at bay. This was now the case. The ground was perfectly
open, and the lemon grass was above my head: thus I could only see the
exact position of the elephants every now and then, by standing upon the
numerous little rocks that were scattered here and there.
