THE ELEPHANT. 13J? 



the horses and men with all the violence it was mas- 

 ter of. 1 was amazed, and as much as ever I was 

 upon such an occasion, afflicted, at seeing the af- 

 fection of the little animal in defending its wound- 

 ed mother, heedless of its own life or safety. I 

 therefore cried to them, for God's sake to spare the 

 mother, but it was then too late ; and the calf had 

 made several rude attacks upon me, which I avoid- 

 ed without difficulty ; but I am happy to this 

 day, in the reflection that I did not strike it. At 

 last, making one of its attacks upon Ayton Egedan 

 (another of the party,) it hurt him a little on the 

 leg ; on which he thrust it through with his lance, 

 as others did after, and it then fell dead before its 

 wounded mother, whom it had so affectionately de- 

 fended. It was about the size of an ass, but round, 

 big-bellied, and heavily made ; and was so furious 

 and unruly, that it would easily have broken tlie leg 

 of a m.an or a horse, could it have overtaken, and 

 jostled against them properly." 



In some parts of the East the Elephants are taken 

 by means of pit-falls. Through the woody forests 

 several paths are cut ; in these are dug deep and 

 large holes, which are carefully covered over with 

 branches and loose earth. 



On distant Ethiopia's sun-burnt coasts. 

 The black inhabitants a pit-fall frame ; 

 With slender poles the wide capacious mouth. 

 And hurdles light, they close ; o'er these is spread. 

 A floor of verdant turf, with all its fiow'rs 

 . Smiling delusive, and from strictest search 

 Concealing the deep grave that yawns below. 



