108 



CASSELL'S POPULAR NATURAL HISTORY. 



c.|iml niinilHT of lion.-s.sfs, two hundred leopards, iitul three hundred bears. In the theatre built by 

 Scaurus, live hundred panthers are said to have been let loose in the arena. 



At a later period, during the zenith of the Mogul Empire, the number of beasts and birds which 

 were kept around the suM-n-i.mi.s was almost incredible. Many thousand elephants were always at 

 command, :md were employed in the ware, or in assisting to drive the more ferocious and cunning 

 animals into inelosures, where they could be taken. Beasts of prey were captured in this way, and were 

 kept in royal parks to be hunted at leisure, or to be matched against each other at public fights. The 

 others were used in hunting, and were equally numerous, with a proportionate number of attendants. 

 Genghis Khan, for instance, being at Zerinid in the midst of winter, ordered that his soldiers should 

 be thus employed, that they might be kept in action. All were armed, as if on a martial expedition, 

 with helmets of iron, corslets of leather, bucklers of wither, scimitars, bows, and quivers full of arrows. 

 It was forbidden to kill or wound any animal, whatever violence the beast offered. The circle 

 appointed by the huntsman was an immense number of leagues in circumference, and inclosed a great 

 number of groves and woods, with all the animals that lived in them. The soldiers marched very 



close together, and always towards the centre, driving 

 before them the beasts. They were to shout and 

 frighten the game from passing the inclosure ; and 

 thus they marched from day to day, driving the 

 beasts before them. As the circle lessened, and 

 the beasts found themselves pressed, some ran to the 

 mountains, some to the valleys, and some, only to 

 be driven back, retreated to holes and burrows ; but 

 spades, mattocks, and ferrets, brought them out. 



" Couriers went from different quarters," it is 

 said, " to advise the Grand Khan of what was passing, 

 and to give him news of the princes who shared the 

 diversion and confusion of the chase. The emperor 

 kept a strict eye on the conduct of the troops. The 

 wild beasts being now hard pressed, the strong leaped 

 on the weakest, and tore them in pieces ; but their 

 fury did not last long. 



" The timbrels, drums, and other instruments, were now played upon ; which, with the shouts 

 and cries of the soldiers, so frightened these wild animals, that they lost all their fierceness. The 

 liens and tigers grew gentle ; bears and wild boars, like the most timid creatures, seemed cast down 

 and amazed. 



" The trumpets being sounded, the Grand Khan entered the circle first, holding in one hand his 

 naked sword, and in the other his bow ; his quiver was across his shoulder. He was attended by 

 uorno of his sons, and all his general officers. He himself began the slaughter, striking the fiercest 

 beasts, some of which became furious, and endeavoured to defend their lives. At last the Emperor 

 retreated to an eminence, and seated himself upon a throne prepared for him. From thence he observed 

 the strength and agility of his children, and all the officers who attacked the savage animals. What- 

 ever danger they ran, yet no one avoided it or gave back, but rather showed more eagerness, well 

 knowing that the Grand Khan, by this, would judge of their merit." 



Tli'->i> details are sufficient to show the scale on which such expeditions were sometimes carried 

 on, and the immense slaughter of animal life that consequently took place. They will also account, in 

 some measure, for the reduction of the numbers, and the restriction of some species, in many parts 

 I Northern and Western Asia, and the Knropean boundary, where they were formerly very numerous. 

 I lie wild animals of Abyssinia present many varieties, as might be expected, in so extensive a 

 country ; and the inhabitants are dexterous horsemen. The chase has, therefore, long been among 

 them a lav.mrite Held sport (page 111), of which our traveller, Bruce, has given a curious account. 



FOSSIL SKULL OF OSE OF THE FELJDJS, POUND AT 

 AUVEKGSE. 



