The Mission

lls of their wives and their liquor-shops. As it was, most of them were in a state of intoxication, and it was considered advisable to get them out of the town as soon as possible. Late i

andscape now changed its aspect, being covered

any direction. At last they arrived at a muddy pool, in which elephants had evidently been enjoying themselves, and the oxen and horse

l around were very beautiful, the river smoothly gliding through stupendous mountains and precipices, with verdant valleys on each side of its banks. In the afternoon they arrived at Fort Wiltshire, the outermos

before they started. The original plan had been to direct their course to Chumie, the first missionary station, which was about twenty-five miles distant; but as it was out of their way, they now resolved to proceed direct to Butterworth, which was forty miles

mediately, and threatening to shoot him if he was ever seen in the caravan, had the desired effect of restoring order. The country was now a series of hills and dales, occasionally of deep ravines, and their route lay through the paths made by the elephants, which were numerous. A Hottentot of the name of Bremen, who was consider

were crossing a woody hill, by the elephants' path, being then about 200 yards in advance of the wagons, they were saluted with one of the most hid

at?" exclaim

cried the Major; "and turn

, and were soon accompanied by the whole mass of Ho

r; every one was hushed, and t

and he is gone," said

at?" inquire

he would have tumbled you down the precipice, horse and all. There must be a her

too," replie

ears for a month," said Alexander; "why

u hear it," r

to any Caffre kraals or not it was impossible to say; but they heard no barking of dogs or lowing of oxen. Having collected all the cattle, they formed a square of the fo

and they traveled then as far as they could after nightfall, to avoid the extreme heat of the day, the continual

ild animals. The hyenas and wolves were very numerous, and prowled the whole night in hopes of getting hold of some of the sh

med. Begum, the baboon, had been released from her confinement since their crossing the Fish River, and as usual, when they sat down, came and made one of the party, gene

y his strength but his gayety, and was one of the

ntots. He was not more than three feet and a half high, and with limbs remarkably delicate, although well made. His face was very much like a monkey's, and his gestures and manners completely so; he was quite as active and full of fun. The watch had been set as soon as the fires were lighted; and close to where

turned, he began making a number of signs, and nodding his head; at last he bent down, putting his arm in front of him, and raising it like a

elephant had given an hour before, that the Hottentot started up, dropped his musket, and thr

r which proceeded from the party soon told them that there was nothing to apprehend, and that little Omrah had been playing his tricks. Big Adam rose up, looking very

over, "it proves that Adam is an elephant-hu

that our opinion of him was just, and that w

n record here," observed Swinton, "is that of Lieutenant Mo

xander; "and if the Major has, he will

rticulars, and shall therefore be

e day he was told that a large troop of elephants was close at hand, and that several of the men were out, and in pu

from the jungle, not two hundred yards from where he stood. Being alone on the open ground, he knew that if he fired and did not kill, he could have no chance; so he hastily retreated, hoping that the animals would not see him. On looking back, however, he perceived, to his dismay, that they were all in chase of him, and rapidly gaining on him; he therefore resolved to reserve his fire till the last mom

n," observed the Major. "Go on, Swinton;

oulder, when it went off, and the ball merely grazed the side of the elephant's head. The animal halted for an instant, and then made a furious charge upon him. He fell; whether struck down by the elephant's

ad never lost his recollection, and kept twisting his body and his limbs, so as to prevent it from obtaining a direct tread upon him. While he was in this state of distress, another officer and a Hottentot hunter came up to his assistance, and fired several shots at the animal, which was severely wounded, and the other three took to their heels. At l

s an escape,"

e. The fierce animal gave chase to him, and caught him immediately under the height where Mr. Moodie and his brother were standing, carried the poor fellow for some distance on his trunk, then threw him down, and stamping upon him until he was quite dead, left the body

t-hunt; yet I must say," continued Alexander, "that, although it

portunity; but it will be better to get the Caffr

no weapons, exce

he animal is exhausted from loss of blood, and they are so quick that the elephant seldom is able to destroy one of them. They consider the elephant of as high rank as

n approach so terrible an a

Caffres are within three feet of his tail or flank when they attack, and they attack him in the elephant-paths, which are too narrow for the

do assist eac

t stood to be fired at. The female elephant, which was in the jungle, witnessing the distress of its mate, regardless of her own danger, immediately rushed out to his assistance, chasing away the hunters, and walked round and round her mate, constantly returning to his side, and caressing him. When the male a

story, Swinton," observed Alexander; "it really makes one feel

the Major. "Seriously, however, I quite agree with you; their sagacity, as my Indian ex

he guides are correct. I am very anxious to get there, I must say. Does not the ch

ready for him, for I think it would be advisable to ask an es

hall have some elephant-hunting: but Bremen tells me that there ar

Swinton; "I suppose you w

commander-in-chief w

just as anxious to have a day's sport with them as you

a horse. He is a nice light weig

xander. "What a tiger he woul

the Major; "but it is time t