explosive shell； containing a bursting charge of half an ounce of fine
grain powder。 These two elephant rifles were very hard hitters； and
carried twelve drachms of powder。 The ammunition for the rifles was on a
shelf that formed the rack； contained in a small bag with a simple
reload； and a large bag with a considerable supply。 The small bag was
intended for the deck； should I call suddenly for a rifle。
Seeing that the elephants were so near； I at once ordered my horse；
〃Greedy Grey；〃 to be saddled； and the rifles and ammunition to be sent
after me。 My servant； Suleiman； who had started with me from Alexandria；
was an honest； good creature； but so exceedingly nervous that he was
physically useless in any sudden emergency。 The climate of the marshes
during our long voyage had so affected his nervous system； that any
alarm or start would set him trembling to such an extent； that his teeth
chattered as though he had been bathing in iced water。 However； there
was no time to lose； as I expected that should the elephants observe our
vessels； and the troops in their scarlet uniform； they would immediately
wheel round and be off； at the pace which an African elephant knows so
well how to use。
I quickly mounted 〃Greedy Grey〃 and told Suleiman to send on my rifles
directly； with ammunition。
I ordered my men to run up the heights； and to come down at about 200
paces in the rear of the elephants； where they were to form a line as
though in skirmishing order。 This line of red shirts would most probably
check the elephants from rushing back。 My men had orders to fire at the
elephants； and to endeavour to turn them should they attempt a retreat。
I was now on 〃Greedy Grey；〃 the sloping ground was as clean as a
race…course； I therefore galloped up the incline so as to keep above the
elephants。 The horse flew along at full speed。 At this moment； a chorus
of shouts from great numbers of natives who had collected on the east
bank of the river was raised in admiration of the white horse； which
they probably thought would in some manner seize the elephants。
In a very few seconds I reined up on the slope； about a hundred yards
above the herd； which had now halted close to the river's bank。 They
regarded the horse with some curiosity； and massed themselves together。
In the meantime； my 〃Forty；〃 who were capital runners； were moving
rapidly along the heights； and they presently came down； and formed in a
long； open line from the edge of the river up the slope。 During this
operation； the elephants only moved their ears and trunks； but remained
in the same position。 They were now completely surrounded； the diahbeeah
and my people were in their front； I was above them on one flank； and
the servants were coming up with the rifles。 In their rear was a line of
about twenty soldiers； and on the other flank was the deep river； about
110 yards wide from the mainland to the island。
Just as the rifles were within a few yards of me and I was preparing to
dismount； the elephants wheeled suddenly round； and took to water。
They had been standing in a low； swampy spot that was frequently
overflowed： thus they had no difficulty in descending to the river。
Close to this place； the banks were perpendicular； and as hard as brick。
I ran down to the river； but by the time of my arrival； the elephants
had gained the opposite bank； there； however； they were in a difficulty。
The water was deep； and the shore of the island was perpendicular； and
about six feet above the water。 They could not get out without breaking
down the bank so as to form an incline。 Already these enormous
creatures； which are accustomed to such difficulties； were tearing down
the earth with their tusks and horny…toed feet； still it was a work of
time； that gave me a good opportunity。
It was difficult to obtain a shot； as the elephants were end on。 The
distance was about 110 yards； which is very uncertain for so large an
animal； that must be struck exactly in the right place。
I fired several shots with the No。 8 breechloader； aimed at the back of
their heads； but none of these were successful。
Monsoor had the ammunition； and reloaded for me。 The stunning effect of
the heavy metal confused the animals and caused one to fall backward
into the scrambling herd。 This turned an elephant sideways。 The bank had
already given way and had fallen in large masses into the water； which
reduced the depth。 The elephants； which had now gained a muddy footing；
ploughed and tore down the yielding earth with redoubled vigour； as my
men in great excitement opened a hot fire upon them with the snider
rifles。 These had about as much effect as though they had been pelted
with stones。
Presently； as the depth was lessened by the falling bank； the elephants
showed more body above the surface。 The splashing and scrambling was
extraordinary； at length a large bull half ascended the bank； and for a
moment exposed his flank； I fired a quick right and left shot with a
Reilly No。 8 behind his shoulder； and he fell backwards into the river；
where he commenced a series of wild struggles that brought him within
twenty yards of me； and I sent a ball into his head which killed him。
The powerful stream at once carried away the floating carcase。
The bank had now completely given way； and an elephant was nearly on the
summit。 I fired at him with one of the Holland half…pounders； which by
the recoil flew out of my hands for a distance of several yards； this
was loaded with twelve drachms of fine…grain powder。 The elephant fell
on his knees on the steep incline； and was bagged to all intents and
purposes； but believing that I had plenty of ammunition at hand； I fired
another half…pounder into his shoulder； which killed him on the spot；
and he rolled into the water； and the current took him away。
I immediately sent a man to order boats； with ropes and axes； to follow
the carcases。
In the mean time I fired my last No。 8 into the shoulder of an elephant
that had just climbed the bank and gained the island。 I now had a
glorious opportunity of a shoulder…shot at every animal as it should
ascend the steep incline。
My ammunition was exhausted！ My servant； Suleiman； had sent the little
bag that contained only one reload for the breech…loaders； and no
powder flask or shells for the half…pounders。 I had now the annoyance of
witnessing the difficult ascent of the elephants in single file；
exposing their flanks in succession to the shoulder…shot； while I
remained a helpless looker…on。
I had thus bagged only two out of eleven； but these were killed at very
long shots （about 110 yards）。
The half…pounder rifles were the same calibre and pattern as that
described in 〃The Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia〃 as 〃the Baby。〃 These
were made by Mr。 Holland of Bond Street； and are the most overpowering
rifles I ever used。 They were certain to kill the elephant； and to half
kill the man who fired them with twelve drachms of fine…grain powder。 I
was tolerably strong； therefore I was never killed outright； but an Arab
hunter had his collar…bone smashed by the recoil； when the rifle was
loaded with simple coarse…grain powder。 If he had used fine grain； I
should hardly have insured his life。
The elephants having gained the island； remained some time exposed；
before they made up their minds to cross to the other side。
Unfortunately； the boats had followed the carcases of the elephants down
the river； which were two miles distant before they could be secured；
therefore we had no means of reaching the island。 Our vessels could not
have crossed； as there were many rocks below stream。
I therefore took a few shots with Hale's rockets； one of which just
grazed the rump of an elephant； and sent them off in great astonishment。
We then tried a few shots with the fieldpiece； but the gun made bad
practice； and the shells exploded very wildly and not according to the
distances regulated by the fuses。
The specific gravity of the elephant differs considerably from that of
the hippopotamus。 The latter animal invariably sinks when killed； and
the body rises to the surface in about two hours； when the gas has
distended the stomach。 The body of an elephant floats on the surface
immediately that it is killed； and is capable of supporting one or more
persons。 The cavity of the carcase is much larger in the elephant than
in the hippopotamus； the latter is a dense mass of flesh； covered by an
exceedingly thick and heavy skin； the specific gravity of which is
considerably greater than water。
CHAPTER XIII。
MORAL RESULTS OF THE HUNT。
The moral result of the elephant hunt was very satisfactory； at the same
time most unexpected。
The sound of cannon had been heard by the natives for many miles； this
had awakened their curiosity； and numbers had sped from the surrounding
heights and satisfied themselves that several elephants had been killed。
The natives of Bedden flocked to our little camp in hundreds； and were
delighted at receiving permission to take as much elephant's flesh as
they required。 They raced along the bank for a couple of miles to the
spot where the two elephants had been secured by my people； and towed
upon a sand…bank。
I had sent down a noggur to make sure of the heads； as the opportunity
of obtaining entire skulls seldom offered。 These two heads had now been
brought safely to camp； and the natives were employed in cleaning every
atom of flesh from the bone。
In the mean time； great numbers of our enemies were to be seen squatting
upon the heights； watching the happier Baris of Bedden； who had
congregated like vultures in the river； and were quarrelling and
scrambling over the immense carcases of the elephants。 The temptation
was too great to withstand。 Who could resist flesh？ The mouths of our
enemies were watering； as they watched the heavy loads of red meat
carried upon the heads of the rival Baris。 In the afternoon； a messenger
hailed the sentry to say that one of the sheiks wished to present
himself to me to crave a cessation of hostilities。 Shortly after the
disappearance of this man with a courteous answer； a batch of messengers
arrived to beg that their chief might be received； as they a