und, and the whole
face of the valley was covered with elephants. There could not have
been less than nine hundred at one time within the scope of their
vision.

Every height, every green knoll, was dotted with groups of six or seven,
some of their vast bodies partly concealed by the trees upon which they
were browsing, others walking in the open plain, bearing in their trunks
a long branch of a tree, with which they evidently protected themselves
from the flies. The huge bodies of the animals, with the corresponding
magnitude of the large timber-trees which surrounded them, gave an idea
of nature on her grandest scale.

After a few minutes' survey, they turned to the party who were collected
behind them, and gave notice that they were to commence immediately.
The head-men of the Caffres gave their orders, and the bands of natives
moved silently away in every direction, checking any noise from the
dogs, which they had brought with them in numerous packs. Our
travellers were to leeward of the herd on the hill where they stood, and
as it was the intention of the natives to drive the animals towards
them, the Caffre warriors as well as the Hottentots all took up
positions on the hill, ready to attack the animals as they were driven
that way.

About an hour passed away, when the signal was given by some of the
native Caffres, who had gained the side of the valley to westward of the
elephants. Perched up at various high spots, they shouted with
stentorian lungs, and their shouts were answered by the rest of the
Caffres on every side of the valley, so that the elephants found
themselves encompassed on all sides, except on that where the hill rose
from the valley. As the Caffres closed in, their shouts reverberating
from the rocks, and mixed up with the savage howlings of the dogs,
became tremendous; and the elephants, alarmed, started first to one side
of the valley, then to the other, hastily retreating from the clamour
immediately raised as they approached, shaking their long ears and
trumpeting loudly, as with uplifted trunks they trotted to and fro.

At last, finding no other avenue of escape, the herd commenced the
ascent of the hill, cracking the branches and boughs, and rolling the
loose stones down into the valley, as they made their ascent, and now
adding their own horrid shrieks to the din which had been previously
created. On they came, bearing everything down before them, carrying
havoc in their rage to