A Day's Elephant Hunting in Essex. 53
way. But it is too soon yet to sum up the events of the
day. We are still in the region where scores of elephants
have been traced by our leader, Sir Antonio, during his
residence in Essex, and some wonderful sights and sensa-
tions may yet await us.
The signal is given to withdraw from the Uphall field,
and to hark back towards Ilford. On the London road, just
beyond Ilford, are some game preserves which have been
explored with great success in previous years. Towards
Ilford, then, we go along the Barking road. The landscape
scenery, might we linger to enjoy it, would doubtless charm
us with something of idyllic beauty. All around us the
peaceful aborigines of Ilford pursue their wonted toil.
Their life's employ would seem to be the cartage of manure.
This staple industry of modern Ilford engrosses all the
rural population. They stack the precious tilth in massive
banks along the road, and seem to grudge the narrow
embrasure in the long unlovely parapet that leads to many
a cottage. Such are the charms of the Ilford country in
the month of June. But even here the ancient ivory
trade would seem to have survived. Some of the natives,
suspending for the moment their virtuous husbandry,
make advances to us, and seem inclined for exchange and
barter. They show us various articles of the elephant traffic,
which seems to form the native wealth of the country.
In a few minutes the lower molar tooth of a young
elephant has changed hands. The purchaser knows it to
be the lower molar because the grinding surface is slightly
concave, whereas the upper molar is always in the same
degree convex. Other ivory ware might perhaps have been
offered to us, but the pace of our leaders began rapidly to
increase, and we were speedily re-entering Ilford. Here,
at Ilford, we find the aborgines assembled at a goat-fair.
Goats, it would seem, are the favourite milch-fauna of the
district. We push on further, and are able to descry just
ahead of us the huntresses of our party. Sir Antonio's
carriage is again conveying them to the scene of expected
sport. We, the hardier sex, are footing it as we go. The
way is longer than we expected, but it is enlivened (as is