The Kheddah 121 



deer drew off towards the shelter of the forest ; 

 the vultures spread their wings to the day- 

 light, but with no intention of quitting their 

 perches to seek the cooler air of the higher 

 altitudes till the sun was hot ; and lastly, man 

 awoke and set about the business of the day. 



It was some hours later when all was ready 

 for the hunt, for here the purpose was not to 

 drive a herd of wild elephants into a stockade, 

 but to run them down in the open forest, to 

 lasso them, and bring them captive to the camp. 

 It was a more sporting proceeding, where the 

 fate of the individual would be decided by the 

 speed, endurance, cleverness and courage both 

 of pursuer and pursued. When at last the 

 hunters moved in single file from the deserted 

 camp there were some forty elephants prepared 

 for the task before them. On each were 

 mounted two men ; the one sitting on the neck 

 of his elephant, armed with heavy iron hook to 

 urge and direct during the pursuit ; the other 

 squatting over the crupper ropes, holding in his 

 hand a short wooden club faced with iron spikes 

 which acted as a spur in time of need. Between 



