136 
ELEPHANT. 
follows the horse everywhere, turning and turning 
round with him, neglectful of making his escape 
by running straight forward, in which consists his 
only safety. After having made him turn once 
or twice in pursuit of the horse, the horseman 
rides close up along-side of him, and drops his com- 
panion just behind on the off-side ; and while he 
engages the elephant’s attention upon the horse, 
the footman behind gives him a drawn stroke just 
above the heel, or what in man is called the ten- 
don of Achilles. This is the critical moment ; 
the horseman immediately wheels round, takes his 
companion up behind him, and rides off 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 sword is good, 
and the man not afraid, the tendon is commonly 
entirely separated ; and if it is not cut through, it 
is generally so far divided, that the animal, with 
the stress he puts upon it, breaks the remaining 
part asunder. In either case, he remains incapable 
of advancing a step, till the horseman return, or his 
companions coming up pierce him through with 
javelins and lances : he then falls to the ground, and 
expires with loss of blood. 
“ The agageer nearest me presently lamed his 
elephant, and left him standing. Ayto Engedan, 
Ayto Confu, Guebra Mariam, and several others, 
fixed their spears in the other before the agageer 
had cut his tendons. My agageer, however, having 
