A party of Caffres soon afterwards came up and commenced cutting up the
carcass, and then our travellers walked away in the direction of the
camp, to ascertain what mischief had been done.

On their return, which, as they stopped occasionally to examine the
other animals that had fallen, must have taken an hour, they found that
the Hottentots had not commenced unloading the waggon; although they had
put tubs to catch the running liquor, of which they had taken so large a
quantity that some were staggering about, and the rest lying down in a
state of senseless intoxication.

"I thought they were very officious, in going back to assist," observed
the Major; "a pretty mess we should be in, if we were in an enemy's
country, and without our Caffre guard."

"Yes, indeed," replied Alexander, turning over the tub of liquor, and
spilling it on the ground, much to the sorrow of the Hottentots who were
not yet insensible; "however, we will now let the cask run out, and
watch that they get no more."

As the Caffres were busy with the carcasses of the elephants, and most
of the Hottentots dead-drunk, it was useless to think of proceeding
until the following day. Indeed, the oxen and horses were all scattered
in every direction by the elephants breaking into the caravan, and it
would be necessary to collect them, which would require some time. Our
travellers, therefore, gave up the idea of proceeding further that day,
and taking their guns, walked on to the forest, in the direction where
most of the elephants killed had fallen. They passed by three
carcasses, upon which the Caffres were busily employed, and then they
came to a fourth, when a sight presented itself which quite moved their
sympathy. It was the carcass of a full-grown female, and close to it
was an elephant calf, about three feet and a half high, standing by the
side of its dead mother.

The poor little animal ran round and round the body with every
demonstration of grief, piping sorrowfully, and trying in vain to raise
it up with its tiny trunk. When our travellers arrived, it ran up to
them, entwining its little proboscis round their legs, and showing its
delight at finding somebody. On the trees, round the carcass, were
perched a number of vultures, waiting to make a meal of the remains, as
soon as the hunters had cut it up, for their beaks could not penetrate
the tough hide. Our travellers remained there for more than an hour,
watching the motions and