94 Journal of Travel and A^afiiral History 



asleep or extremely listless and easy to approach. Should they discover the 

 animal asleep, one of the hunters would creep stealthily towards the head, and, 

 with one blow, sever the trunk which stretched upon the ground ; in which 

 case the elephant would start upon his feet, while the hunters escaped in the 

 confusion of the moment. The trunk severed would ciuise a haemorrhage suffi- 

 cient to insure the death of the elephant within about an hour. On the other 

 hand, should the animal be awake upon their arrival, it would be impossible to 

 approach the trunk, and in such a case they would creep up from behind, and give 

 a tremendous cut at the back sinew of the hind leg, about a foot above the 

 heel. Such a blow would disable the elephant at once, and would render 

 comparatively easy a second cut to the remaining leg : the arteries being divided 

 the animal would quickly bleed to death." — (p. 172.) 



These are the methods adopted by the poor hunters. When 

 provided with horses their proceedings are modified acccordingly ; 

 they are changed from a stalk into a chase ; but this hunt on horse- 

 back will be best appreciated by the account of a characteristic 

 one given by Sir Samuel Baker, at which he was himself present. 

 For want of space we must pass over the spirited account of the 

 " find," and first " burst." The elephant had entered a stronghold, 

 composed of rocky and uneven ground, in the clefts of which grew 

 thinly a few leafless trees, the thickness of a man's leg. It then 

 turned boldly and stood determinedly at bay : 



"The elephant stood facing us like a statue ; it did not move a muscle, be- 

 yond -a quick and restless action of the eyes that were watching all sides. 

 Taher Sherif and his youngest brother Ibrahim now separated, and each took 

 opposite sides of the elephant, and then joined each other about twenty yards 

 behind it ; I accompanied them, until Taher advised me to keep about the 

 same distance on the left flank. My tokrooris kept apart from the scene, as 

 they were not required. In front of the elephant were two agageers, one of 

 whom was the renowned Rodur Sherif, with the withered arm. All being 

 ready for action, Rodur now rode slowly towards the head of the cunning old 

 bull, who was quietly awaiting an opportunity to make certain of some one 

 who might give him a good chance. 



' ' Rodur Sherif rode a bay mare, that, having been thoroughly trained to 

 these encounters, was perfect at her work. Slowly and coolly she advanced to- 

 wards her wary antagonist, until within about eight or nine yards of the 

 elephant's head. The creature never moved, and the niise en scene was beauti- 

 ful. Not a word was spoken, and we kept our places amidst utter stillness, 

 which was at length broken by a snort from the mare, who gazed intently at 

 the elephant, as though watching for the moment of attack. 



"One more pace forward, and Rodur sat coolly upon his mare with his eyes 

 fixed upon those of the elephant. For an instant I saw the white of the eye 

 nearest to me. 'Look out, Rodur, he's coming !" I exclaimed : with a shrill 

 scream the elephant dashed upon him like an avalanche. 



"Round about went the marc, as though upon a pivot, and away over rocks 



