about the white women who had been wrecked with me, and
inquired whether it were possible to see them and persuade them to
return to civilisation in his ship.

I told him I believed they would avoid being seen, and certainly would
not leave the country, as they were the mothers of several children, and
were regularly accustomed to the life they now led. We stopped about as
long as it took the sun to go ten times its diameter; and then, bidding
the chief good-bye, we returned to our boats and pulled off to the ship.
Umnini had made a present of a gourd snuff-box to the captain, and had
received in return a watch-chain, which Umnini hung round his neck.

Several of the officers of the ship were anxious to go on shore to have
some shooting, and asked me where was the best place to go. I told them
that in the bush there were elephants and antelope; that it was
dangerous sport going after elephants, but if they were careful, they
might kill one. Four officers arranged to go with me, in search of
them, and to start at daybreak. On the open ground near the head of the
bay, there were some pools of water just outside the bush, where the
elephants were fond of drinking during the night. Upon landing from our
boats, we walked to these ponds, and I told the officers that we must
not speak above a whisper when we entered the bush, and must walk so
quietly that no man could hear the footsteps of the man in front of him.
The officers smiled at my cautious instructions, and seemed amused at
the idea of being taught by a mere boy. The elephants had visited the
pool early in the morning, and had then entered the bush by one of their
well-worn paths. The traces of the animals were very plain, the print
of their large feet being distinctly marked in many places. We had not
entered the bush more than the distance of four or five throws of an
assagy, when I heard the slight crack of a stick in front of us. I
stopped, and stooping down, saw the outline of an elephant looming
amidst some dense underwood. I pointed to this spot and whispered to
the officers, "Elephant."

They stooped and peeped, but could see nothing. I then signalled to
them to go slowly forward, when they would, I hoped, obtain a view of
the animal. The officers crept on, but not being accustomed to the
bush, each man made more noise than would fifty Caffres. They had only
gone on a few steps, when they turned to me and said, "That is not an
elephant, it is o