EXTRAORDINARY STYLE OP HUNTING 3G3 



one of the hunters creeps stealthily towards it, and 

 with one blow severs the trunk whilst stretched 

 upon the ground ; in which case the elephant starts 

 to his feet, whilst the hunters escape in the confusion 

 of the moment. The severing of the trunk causes 

 hemorrhage sufficient to ensure the death of the 

 elephant within about an hour. On the other hand, 

 should the elephant be awake on their arrival, it is 

 impossible for them to approach the trunk ; in such 

 case they creep up from behind, and give a tremen- 

 dous cut at the back sinew of the hind leg, about a 

 foot above the heel ; such a blow disables the ele- 

 phant at once, and renders comparatively easy a 

 second cut at the remaining leg. The arteries 

 being divided, the animal quickly bleeds to death. 

 These are the methods adopted by poor hunters 

 until, by the sale of ivory, they can purchase horses 

 for the higher branch of the art. 



" When provided with horses, the party of hunters 

 should not exceed four. They start before day- 

 break, and ride slowly throughout the country in 

 search of elephants, generally keeping along the course 

 of a river, until they come upon the tracks which lead 

 them to the spot where a herd, or a single elephant, 

 may have drunk during the night. When once 

 upon the tracks, they follow last the retreating game. 

 The elephants may be twenty miles distant, but 

 that matters little to the AggajetTS. At length 

 they discover them, and the hunt begins. The first 

 step is to single out the bull with the largest tusks. 

 This is the commencement of the fight. After a 

 short hunt, the elephant turns upon his pursuers, 



