TRAVELS m EASTERN- AFRICA 



351 



The rope, upon contact with the elephant's leg, breaks, 

 and down comes the spear. This is not often fatal. 

 The spear is thickly smeared with poison, and is so 

 hung that, w^hen it drops, it will strike the elephant 



Scene on the Guaso Nyiro River 



just behind the shoulders. All the natives of East 

 Africa who use poisoned arrows or spears in the pur- 

 suit of game, do not for a moment hesitate to eat the 

 flesh of the animals thus poisoned ; they are careful, 

 however, to avoid that portion of the flesh immediately 

 surrounding the wound. 



