140 
ELEPHANT. 
teen inches of the blade of which are covered 
with whip-cord. This part he takes in his right 
hand, without any danger of being hurt by it ; 
and, though the edges of the lower part of the 
sword are as sharp as a razor, he carries it with- 
out a scabbard. 
As soon as an elephant is found feeding, the 
horseman rides before him, as near to his face as 
possible ; or, if he tries to escape, crosses him in 
ail directions, calling out, I am such a one, and 
such a one, this is my horse, that has such a name ; 
I killed your father in such a place, and your 
grandfather in such another place, and I am now 
come to kill you, who are nothing in comparison 
with them.” This nonsense he believes the ele- 
phant perfectly to understand ; who, chafed and 
£ngry at hearing the noise immediately before him, 
attempts to seize him with his trunk ; and, intent 
upon this, follows the horse every where, turning 
round and round with him, neglecting to make his 
escape by running straight forward, in which 
consists liis only safety. After having made him 
turn a few times in pursuit of the horse, the horse- 
man rides close up beside of him, and drops his 
companion just behind, on the off side ; and while 
he engages the elephant's attention upon the horse, 
the other behind gives him a drawn stroke just 
above the heel, into what in man is called the ten- 
don of Achilles. This is the critical moment ; 
the horseman immediately wheels round, again 
takes his companion up behind him, and rides off 
at full speed after the rest of the herd, if they have 
started more than one ; and sometimes an expert 
agageer will kill three out of one herd. If the 
swoid is good, and the man not too timid, the 
tendon is in common entirely separated ; and, if 
not cut through, is generally so far divided that 
the animal, with the stress he puts upon it, breaks 
