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Ch. 5: Elephant Hunting

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ELEPHANT HUNTING, ETC. 201
found unmistakable traces on the tree trunks and the ground showing that the animal had staggered to its feet and laboriously made its way through the forest. As they followed the trail, they could note that, little by little, the elephant's tread had grown firmer and its pace had evi­dently accelerated. Vainly they followed the trail for several hours, and were at last forced to give up the pur­suit and allow the "dead " elephant to escape. The natives, however, immediately explained the strange happening in the light of their superstitions, declaring that it was no real elephant the hunter had shot, but a majavie, or wizard, who had taken up his abode in an elephant form.* Doubtless this tale spread about among the tribesmen and has by this time developed into a wild and wondrous legend.
Among the Kukus of the Anglo-Egyptian possessions, the native elephant hunters climb trees near the elephant trail, and when the animals pass, cast their lances at them, aiming to hit the shoulder. The shaft and head of the lance used for this purpose are exceptionally long, the head meas­uring 36 cm. (about 14 in.) and the bamboo shaft 1.65 m. (5 ft. 5 in.), the end of the shaft being enrolled with ele­phant hide firmly bound by thongs.f
An example of unscrupulous business methods in inte­rior Africa is afforded by the conduct of the Asande chiefs toward the Ababuas. They cleverly circulated among the whites the report that the latter were a race of savages and that no white man could enter their country except at the peril of his life. Not content with this they succeeded in persuading the Ababuas that the white men were very bloodthirsty and cruel, and that should any Ababuas ap-
*James Sutherland, "The Adventures of an Elephant Hunter," London, 1912, pp. 112, sqq.
fCoUection de monographes ethnologiques, VI, Les Kuku, by Joseph Van der Pias. Bruxelles, p. 164.
Ch. 5: Elephant Hunting Page of 681 Ch. 5: Elephant Hunting
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