The First Attack Upon A Herd By A Couple Of First-Rate Elephant-Shots
Frequently Ends The Contest In A Few Seconds By The Death Of Every
Elephant.
I have frequently seen a small herd of five or six elephants
annihilated almost in as many seconds after a well-planned approach in
thick jungle, when they have been discovered standing in a crowd and
presenting favourable shots.
In such an instance the sport is so soon
concluded that the only excitement consists in the cautious advance to
the attack through bad jungle.
As a rule, the pursuit of elephants through bad, thorny jungles should
if possible be avoided: the danger is in many cases extreme, although
the greater portion of the herd may at other times be perhaps easily
killed. There is no certainty in a shot. An elephant may be discerned by
the eye looming in an apparent mist formed by the countless intervening
twigs and branches which veil him like a screen of network. To reach the
fatal spot the ball must pass through perhaps fifty little twigs, one of
which, if struck obliquely, turns the bullet, and there is no answering
for the consequence. There are no rules, however, without exceptions,
and in some instances the following of the game through the thickest
jungle can hardly be avoided.
The character of the country in Ceylon is generally very unfavourable to
sport of all kinds. The length of the island is about two hundred and
eighty miles, by one hundred and fifty in width; the greater portion of
this surface is covered with impenetrable jungles, which form secure
coverts for countless animals.
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