24 



ELEPHANT HUNT. 



" Their attack upon this noble quadruped is usually 

 made from behind, in which position they are able for 

 some time to elude the keen glance of his extraor- 

 dinarily small eye ; and sometimes even to hamstring 

 him before he is aware of the approach of an as- 

 sailant. His huge and unwieldy carcass, together 

 with a disproportionately short neck, render him but 

 ill able to turn quickly round upon his adversary. 

 Of this the natives are fully aware, and advanta- 

 geously avail themselves of his want of agility. 

 When thus engaged in the act of killing him, it is 

 not a little amusing, as well as singular, to hear 

 them lauding the animal, and crying — ( Don't kill 

 us, great Captain ; don't strike or tread upon us, 

 mighty Chief,' whilst in the intervals between those 

 different intreaties, they cast showers of spears into 

 his tortured carcass. The instant he falls all set up 

 as loud a shout as their exhausted strength will en- 

 able them to raise. The tuft of hair on the extremity 

 of the tail is then cut off and taken to the Chief, who 

 generally places it on a pole at the isangue, or 

 entrance of his cattle-fold. It there hangs as one of 

 the ensigns of royalty, and as a trophy of victory 

 achieved by his subjects over the inhabitants of the 

 forest. The extremities of the ear and proboscis are 

 likewise cut off, and with much ceremony deposited 

 in some secret place where they are left to decay ; 

 no one daring to disturb them afterwards. This 

 being done, and the tusks extracted, the remains are 



