HOW WILD ANIMALS ARE CAUGHT 57 
The method which these cavalcades generally pursue in 
the capture of young animals is to chase the herd, until the 
young, lagging behind, can be isolated from their parents. 
They are then easily seized and made secure. Among 
giraffes and antelopes this procedure is attended with but 
little danger; and even among buffaloes, which have no 
qualms about deserting their young, the work is compara- 
tively safe. But in the case of rhinoceros and elephants, for 
which the demand is much greater, the capture is not so simple. 
These great creatures turn vigorously to defend their young ; 
and the latter cannot as a rule be secured without first killing 
the old ones. This is done by the swordsmen of Taka in the 
manner already described. The catching of young giraffes 
by the expedient of chasing the herds until the young can 
no longer keep up was first practised in Kordofan during the 
thirties of last century. I need hardly mention that the 
utmost care has to be taken of the captured animals. A herd 
of goats is taken along, in order to keep up a constant supply 
of fresh milk; but even with this precaution a large number 
of the captives die soon after they have been made prisoners, 
and scarcely half of them arrive safely in Europe. 
The Takruris—M ohammedan negroes who have emigrated 
from Darfur—are especially skilful in hunting and trapping. 
They are equally adept in catching hyenas, panthers and 
baboons in carefully constructed traps, or in digging out porcu- 
pines, or in securing birds, such as secretary-birds, francolins, 
etc., in snares and nets of ingenious patterns. This versatility 
renders them invaluable to us as assistants. 
The Havati, or water-hunters, carry on a very special- 
ised trade. Their particular quarry is crocodiles and hippo- 
potami; and, being very expert swimmers, they actually 
attack these creatures in their own element. The weapon 
employed is the harpoon. A long cord is attached to it, so 
_ that the harpoon, after it has been cast, can be drawn back 
again by the thrower. The time usually selected for this sport 
is the hot hours of noon, when the crocodiles are lazily sunning 
