BOOK VIII.] History of Nature. 13 



able Extent ; arid when they were enclosed within the Ditches 

 and Banks, they subdued them by Hunger; and they knew 

 they were tame enough if they would quietly take a Branch 

 from the Man that offered it to them. But now, since they 

 seek after them for the sake of their Teeth, they throw Darts 

 at their Legs, which are the softest Part of their Body. The 

 Trogloditee, 1 a People bordering on Ethiopia, who live only 

 by hunting Elephants, climb the Trees that are near their 

 Walk, and from thence watching all the Herd as they pass, 

 they leap down upon the Buttocks of the hindmost; then he, 

 with his left Hand, layeth hold of the Tail, and setteth his 

 Feet fast in the Flank of the left Side ; and so hanging, with 

 his right Hand he cutteth the Hamstrings of one of his Legs 

 with a very sharp double-edged Knife ; which done, the 

 Elephant slackening his Pace, the Man then maketh escape, 

 and divideth the Sinews likewise of the other Ham ; and all 

 this Execution he doth with wonderful Agility. Others have 

 a safer Way than this, but it is more deceitful : they fix in 

 the Ground a great Way off, very great Bows ready bent; 

 to hold these fast they choose young Men remarkable for 

 their Strength, and others united together draw with all 

 Might these Bows against the first, and so they pierce the 

 Elephants as they pass with Javelins, and then follow them 

 by their Blood. Of these Creatures, the Females are much 

 more fearful than the Males. 



1 These people are often mentioned by Pliny, and are particularly 

 described by Heliodorus (2Ethiopics, b. viii.) : " They are a people of 

 Ethiopia, and live by grazing. These people are extremely swift of foot, 

 as well by nature as by continued exercise from their childhood : of little 

 use in close fight, but very serviceable with their slings, which they gall 

 their enemy with at a distance ; and if they find themselves overpowered, 

 they fly, secured by their swiftness, and by running into holes and caverns 

 among the rocks, where no enemy ever found it worth their while to follow 

 them." The Agagees, as mentioned by Mr. Bruce, in his " Travels into 

 Abyssinia," appear to be a similar race of men ; although the object of 

 pursuit is a different animal. Wern. Club. 



