218 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
the coming foe ; and, with a word of allusion to the 
undying deeds of past days, he rallied the wavering 
valour of his men. 
Near the centre of the Persian line, upon a mon- 
strous white elephant, conspicuous among the multi- 
tude, no less from its size than from its colour, sat 
the commander of the forces, the illustrious Shehe- 
riau, in a splendid haoda ; him did Aboo select as 
his antagonist, and, closely followed by his troops, 
advanced to the engagement. Having escaped un- 
touched from a thick discharge of javelins aimed 
at his eminent person, Aboo made his assault ; 
and, receiving the weapon of his opponent upon his 
shield, by a dexterous blow of his battle-axe, he cut 
asunder the ropes which bound the haoda upon the 
elephant’s back, and brought Sheheriau to the ground. 
By a second blow, dealt with the velocity of light- 
ning, with the accuracy of fate, and with the force 
of an earthquake, Aboo clove the commander of the 
Persians asunder, from the crown of his head to his 
hips. The infuriate elephant, seeing his lord thus 
slaughtered before his face, directed all his terrible 
powers against the daring assailant ; but Aboo, by a 
nice sweep of his axe, struck off the brute’s proboscis. 
Yet, alas ! in that act, his foot slipped in the gore of 
the prostrate Sheheriau, and he fell to the ground. 
Before he could recover himself, the gigantic animal, 
mortally wounded, was also falling ; now casting his 
huge body forward, in a wilful spirit of vengeance, 
