THE ELEPHANT. 181 



dangerous in these cases. She charged three or four 

 times, and, except in the firs!; instance, never went 

 farther than 100 yards. She often stood, after she 

 had crossed a rivulet, and faced the men, though 

 she received fresh spears. It was by this process of 

 spearing and loss of blood that she was killed, for at 

 last, making a short charge, she staggered round, and 

 sank down dead in a kneeling posture." 



A traveller thus describes a regular battle, in which 

 500 men were engaged : 



"The forests here are full of rough strong climbing 

 plants, which you will seo running up to the tops of 

 the tallest trees. These vines they tear down, and 

 with them ingeniously, but with much labour, construct 

 a kind of huge fence or obstruction, not sufficient to 

 hold the elephant, but quite strong enough to check 

 him in his flight, and entangle him in the meshes, till 

 the hunters can have time to kill him. Once caught, 

 they quietly surround the huge beast, and put an end 

 to his struggles by incessant discharges of their spears 

 or guns. 



"Presently a kind of hunting-horn was sounded, 

 and the charge began. Parties were stationed at 

 different parts of the barrier, or tangle as we will call 

 it, which had an astonishing extent, and must have 

 cost much toil to make. Others stole through the 

 woods in silence and looked for their prey. 



