THE STORY OP THE ELEPHANT. 
159 
they come up with the fleeing animal, one seizes the reins of the horse of 
his fellow, who immediately leaps to the ground, and with one blow of his 
huge sword divides the tendon of the elephant’s leg a short distance above 
the heel. The ponderous beast is at once brought to a standstill, and is at 
the mercy of its aggressors. 
A somewhat similar method was formerly practiced in Mashonaland, only 
AFRICAN ELEPHANT. 
there the hunters went on foot, and their weapon was a broad-bladecl axe; 
with this they crept up behind a sleeping elephant, and severed the back ten¬ 
don of the leg in the same manner as above. 
Other tribes in the same district employ a heavily-weighted spear, which 
is plunged into the animal’s back by a hunter seated on a bough overhanging 
one of the most frequented pathways. On receiving the weapon, the elephant 
