THE SOURCE OF THE NILE 299 
This nonfenfe he verily believes the elephant underftands, 
-who, chafed and angry at hearing the noife immediately 
- before him, feeks to feize him with his trunk or probofcis, 
‘and, intent upon this, follows the horfe everywhere, turn- 
ing and turning round with him, neglectful of making 
his efcape by running ftraight forward, in. which confifts 
his only fafety. After having made him turn once or twice’ 
in purfuit of the horfe, the horfeman rides clofe up a- 
— long-fide of him, and drops his companion juft behind on 
the off fide ; and while he engages the elephant’s attention’ 
upon the horfe, the footman behind gives him a drawn 
ftroke juft above the heel, or what in man is called the 
tendon of Achilles. This is the critical moment; the horfe- 
man immediately wheels round, and takes his companion 
up behind him, and rides off full {peed after the reft of the 
herd, if they have ftarted more than one; and fometimes 
an expert Agageer will kill three out of one herd. If the 
fword is good, and the man not afraid, the tendon is com- 
monly entirely feparated; and if it is not cut through, it is 
generally fo far divided, that the animal, with the ftrefs he 
puts upon it, breaks the remaining part afunder. In either 
cafe, he remains incapable of advancing a flep, till the horfe- 
man returning, or his companions coming up, pierce him 
through with javelins and lances; he then falls tothe ground, 
and expires with the lofs of blood. 
Tue Agageer ncareft me prefently lamed his elephant, 
and left him ftanding. Ayto Engedan, Ayto Contu, Guebra 
Mariam, and feveral others, fixed their fpears in the other, 
before the Agageer had cut his tendons. My Agageer, 
however, having wounded the firft elephant, failed in the 
purfuit ot the fecond, and, being clofe upon him at enter- 
Pepe ing 
