168 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



bottom, and so nearly upright that he can scarcely move, in 

 which helpless condition he is easily dispatched with spears. 



Another way of killing elephants, much resorted to generally 

 in January, when the prairies are parched is by locating a large 

 herd and then firing the grass. Surrounded by a circle of fire, 

 the animals huddle together or blindly rush from one side of the 

 circle to another and become so panic-stricken that there is no 

 danger incurred in attacking them with spears or lances. 



The next method of hunting is perfectly legitimate. Should 

 many elephants be in the neighborhood, the natives post about a 

 hundred men in as many large trees ; these men are armed with 

 heavy lances specially adapted to this sport, with blades about 

 eighteen inches long and three inches broad. The elephants are 

 driven by a great number of men toward the trees in which the 

 spearmen are posted, and those that pass sufficiently near are 

 speared between the shoulders. The spear being driven deep 

 into the animal, creates a frightful wound, as the tough handle, 

 striking against the intervening branches of trees, acts as a lever, 

 and works the long blade of the spear within the elephant, 

 cutting to such an extent that he soon drops from exhaustion. 



The best and only really great elephan-t-hunters of the White 

 Nile are the Bagara Arabs, on about the 13 N. lat. These men 

 hunt on horseback, and kill the elephant in fair fight with their 

 spears. The lance is about fourteen feet long, of male bamboo ; 

 the blade is about fourteen inches long by nearly three inches 

 broad, and as sharp as a razor. Two men, thus armed and mounted, 

 form the hunting party. Should they discover a herd, they ride 

 up to the finest tusker and single him from the others. One 

 man now leads the way, and the elephant, finding himself 

 pressed, immediately charges the horse. There is much art 

 required in leading the brute, who follows the horse with great 

 determination, and the rider adapts his pace so as to keep his 

 horse so near that his attention is entirely absorbed with the 

 hope of catching him. The other hunter should by this time 

 have followed close to the elephant's heels, and, dismounting 

 when at full gallop, with wonderful dexterity, he plunges his 



