“It has been observed before; and it is but a fair surmise, that Providence, ever attentive to the wants of the meanest animals, has furnished such large tusks to the African elephant for the necessity which requires them.  In Ceylon there is plenty of grass, and an abundant supply of water all the year round; and further, in Ceylon, the elephant has no enemy to defend himself against.  Here, in Africa, the rivers are periodical torrents, which dry up, and the only means which an elephant has of obtaining water during the dry season is to dig with his tusks into the bed of the river, till he finds the water, which he draws up with his trunk.  Moreover, he has to defend himself against the rhinoceros, which is a formidable antagonist, and often victorious.  He requires tusks also for his food in this country, for the elephant digs up the mimosa here with his tusks, that he may feed upon the succulent roots of the tree.  Indeed, an elephant in Africa without his tusks could not well exist.”

“Thank you for your explanation, which appears very satisfactory and conclusive; and now let us go to breakfast, for Mahomed, I perceive, is ready, and Omrah has displayed our teacups, and is very busy blowing into the spout of the teapot, a Bushman way of ascertaining if it is stopped up.  However, we must not expect to make a London footman out of a ‘Child of the Desert.’”

“Where is his adversary and antagonist, the valiant Big Adam?”

“He was among those who indulged in the liquor yesterday afternoon, and I believe was worse than any one of them.  The little Bushman did not fail to take advantage of his defenseless state, and has been torturing him in every way he could imagine during the whole night.  I saw him pouring water into the Hottentot’s mouth as he lay on his back with his mouth wide open, till he nearly choked him.  To get it down faster, Omrah had taken the big tin funnel, and had inserted one end into his mouth, which he filled till the water ran out; after that he was trying what he could do with fire, for he began putting hot embers between Big Adam’s toes; I dare say the fellow can not walk to-day.”

“I fear that some day he will kill Omrah, or do him some serious injury; the boy must be cautioned,” said Alexander.

“I am afraid it will be of no use, and Omrah must take his chance:  he is aware of Big Adam’s enmity as well as you are, and is always on his guard; but as for persuading him to leave off his tricks, or to reconcile them to each other, it is impossible,” said Swinton—­“you don’t know a Bushman.”

“Then pray tell us something about them,” said the Major, “as soon as you have finished that elephant-steak, which you appear to approve of.  Of what race are the Bushmen?”

“I will tell you when I have finished my breakfast,” replied Swinton, “and not before:  if I begin to talk, you will eat all the steak, and that won’t do.”

“I suspect that we shall not leave this to-day,” said Alexander.  “If, as Bremen says, the cattle have strayed very far, it will be too late to go in the afternoon, and to-morrow you recollect is Sunday, and that, we have agreed, shall be kept as it ought to be.”