Elephants can also make wonderful progress through deep mud, the formation of the hind legs with knees instead of hocks giving them an increased facility for moving through heavy ground.
The great risk in attacking rogue elephants consists in the impracticability of quick movements upon such ground as they generally frequent.

The speed and activity of a man, although considerable upon a smooth surface, is as nothing upon rough, stumpy grass wilds, where even walking is laborious.

What is comparatively level to an elephant's foot is as a ploughed field to that of a man.

This renders escape from pursuit next to impossible, unless some welcome tree should be near, round which the hunter could dodge, and even then he stands but a poor chance, unless assistance is at hand.

I have never seen anyone who could run at full speed in rough ground without falling, if pursued.