NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Elephant hunting in Abyssinia. 



the horse, the horseman rides close up beside 

 him, and drops his companion just behind, on 

 the off side ; and while he engages the elephant's 

 attention upon the horse, the other behind gives 

 him a drawn stroke just above the heel, into what 

 in the human subject is called the tendon of 

 Achilles. This is the critical moment; the 

 horseman wheels round, again takes up his com- 

 panion, and rides off at full speed after the rest 

 of the herd, if they have started more than one; 

 and sometimes a skilful Agageer will kill three 

 out of one herd. If the sword be sufficiently 

 keen, and the man not timid, the tendon is en- 

 tirely separated; or, if not cut through, it is ge- 

 nerally so far divided that the animal, with the 

 stress he puts upon it, breaks the remaining part 

 asunder. In either case, he remains incapable 

 of advancing a step, till the horseman returning, 

 or his companions coming up, transfix him with 

 javelins and lances; when he falls to the ground, 

 and expires from loss of blood. As soon as the 

 animal is dead, they cut his flesh into thongs, like 

 the reins of a bridle, and hang them, like fes- 

 toons, upon the branches of trees, till they become 

 perfectly dry, and then lay them by for their 

 provision in the rainy season. 



On one of these occasions, Mr. Bruce witnes- 

 sed a remarkable instance of affection in a young 

 elephant to its mother: " There now remained," 

 says he, " but two elephants of those that had 

 been discovered; which were a female with a 



