MALAY FENINSULA. 
and touched with poison, into the sole of the elephant's 
foot with all his force, which effectually lames the 
animal, and most commonly causes him to fall, when 
the whole party rushca upon him with spears and sharp- 
pointed sticksj and soon despatch him. 
*^ The rhinoceros they obtain with even less difficulty. 
This animal, which is of solitary habits, is found fre- 
quently in marshy places, with its whole body immei'sed 
in the mud, and part of the head only visible. The 
Malays call the animal *Badak Tapa,' or the recluse 
rhinoceros, Towai'dii the close of the rainy season, they 
are said to bury themselves in this manner in different 
places ; and upon the dry weather setting in, and tvom 
the powerful effects of a vertical sun, the mud becomes 
hard and crusted, and the rhinoceros cannot effect its 
escaiie without considerable difficulty and exertion,* The 
Senmngs prepare themselves with large quantities of 
combustible materials, with which they quietly approach 
the animal, who is aroused from his reverie by an im- 
mense fire over him, which being kept well supplied by 
the Semangs with fresh fuel, soon completes his destruc- 
tion , and renders him in a fit state to make a meal of. 
The projecting horn on the snout is carefully preserved, 
being supposed to be possessed of medicinal properties^ 
and highly prized by the Malays, to whom they barter it 
for their tobacco, &c, 
" A more simple and natural mode of bestowing names 
cannot well be imagined, than that adopted by the Semangs. 
* The wild huflfaloes of Nortk Australia are often found in a 
simikr prcdieaiiieat, fiud are sometimes shot by the huatera before 
they can extricate tkemselves.— G. W. E. 
