U2 
eIefhant. 
it. At last, making one of its attacks upon 
Ay ton Egedan (another of the party,) it hurt him a 
little on fhe leg ; on which he thrust it through 
with his lance, as others did after, and it then fell 
dead before its wounded mother, whom it had so 
affectionately defended. It was about the size of 
an ass, but round, big-bellied, and heavily made ; 
and was so furious and unruly, that it would 
easily have broken the leg of a man or a horse, 
could it have overtaken, and jostled against them 
proper ly.” 
In some parts of the East the elephants are 
taken by means of pit-falls. Through the woody 
forests several paths are cut ; in these are dug deep 
and large holes, which are carefully covered over 
with branches and loose earth. 
On distant Ethiopia’s sun-burnt coasts, 
The black inhabitants a pit-fall frame ; 
With slender poles the wide capacious mouth, 
And hurdles light, they close ; o’er these is spread 
A floor of verdant turf, with all its flowers 
Smiling delusive, and from strictest search 
Concealing the deep grave that yawns below. 
Then boughs of trees they cut, with tempting fruit 
Of various kinds surcharg’d ; the downy peach, 
The clusi’ring vine, and of bright golden rind 
The fragrant orange. Soon as ev’ning grey 
.Advances, slow besprinkling all around 
With kind refreshing dews the thirsty glebe, 
The stately elephant from the close shade 
With step majestic strides ; eager to taste 
The cooler breeze that from the sea-beat shore 
Delightful breathes, or in the limpid stream 
To lave his panting sides ; joyous he scents 
The rich repast, unweeting of the death 
That lurks within. And soon he sporting breaks 
Tlie brittle boughs, and greedily devours 
The fruit delicious. — A h * too dearly bought ; 
The price is life. For iiqw the treach’rous turf 
Trembling gives way ; arid the unweildy beast, 
Self-sinking, drops into the dark profound. 
