Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1892 — Famous Hunters. [ARTICLE]

Famous Hunters.

In Signor Gessi’s “Seven Years in the Soudan” the author describes “the brothers Duma,” two hunters “renowned from Kaka Jo the Victoria Nyanza.” They were in the habit of killing the buffalo, the rhinoceros and the leopard—with no more emotion than a European would experience in shooting rabbits. They were often sent for from distant parts to kill some lion which was doing great mischief. Of their ele-phant-hunting the author says: In all the villages the brothers found an enthusiastic welcome, the people knowing that wherever they were meat was never wanting. Both men were strong-limbed and of uncommon agility. When an elephant rushed upon them they calmly awaited him, and at the right moment leaped to one side. The elephant, not being able to stop, turned toward one of the two brothers and the other plunged a lance into his side. The animal then quitted the first man and fell upon the one who had wounded him, and at that instant the other cut the tendons of the hind legs, bringing the elephant to the ground. ‘ One day, however, one of the brothers was near falling a victim to his boldness. He attacked an elephant alone in the usual way, but stumbled and fell. He rose directly, but the elephant had already seized him in his trunk, and hurled him to a distance of fifteen feet. Fortunately he fell in the middle of a thick bush, and escaped with some scratches and bruises. His friends laughed at the accident, and the next day he said: “I would rather eat my wife Seven times than not take my revenge.” He set out again, refusing the company of his brother. Late in the evening he rpturned, and called tho village together. “Come,” he said, “help me bring in the tusks, and take as much meat for yourselves as you like.” All the population followed him. He had killed nine huge elephants.