the sword clutched in both hands, and he was close
behind the elephant ; a bright glance shone like
lightning, as the sun struck upon the descending
steel ; this was followed by a dull crack, as the sword
cut through skin and sinews, and settled deep in the
bone, about twelve inches above the foot. At the
next stride, the elephant halted dead short in the
midst of its tremendous charge. Taher had jumped
quickly on one side, and had vaulted into the saddle
with his naked sword in hand. At the same moment,
Rodur, who had led the chase, turned sharp round,
and again faced the elephant as before ; stooping
quickly from the saddle, he picked up from the
ground a handful of dirt, which he threw into the face
of the vicious-looking animal, that Once more attempted
to rush upon him. It was impossible ! the foot was
dislocated, and turned up in front like an old shoe.
In an instant Taher was once more on foot, and again
the sharp sword slashed the remaining leg. The
great bull elephant could not move ! the first cut
with the sword had utterly disabled it; the second
was its death blow ; the arteries of the leg were
divided, and the blood spouted, in jets from the
wounds. I wished to terminate its misery by a
bullet behind the ear, but Taher Sherrif begged me
not to fire, as the elephant would quickly bleed to
death without pain, and an unnecessary shot might
attract the Basé, who would steal the flesh and ivory
during our absence. We were obliged to return
immediately to our far distant camp, and the hunters
resolved to accompany their camels to the spot upon
the following day. "We turned our horses heads, and
rode direct towards home, which we did not readh
until nearly midnight, having ridden upwards of sixty
miles during the day.
The hunting of Taher Sherrif and his brothers
was superlatively beautiful ; with an immense amount
of dash, there was a cool, sportsman-like manner in
their mode of attack, that far excelled the impetuous
and reckless onset of Abou Do ; it was difficult
to decide which to admire the most, whether the
coolness and courage of him who led the elephant,
or the extraordinary skill and activity of the aggahr
who dealt the fatal blow.
On the following day, the hunters started to the
dead elephant with camels and sacks, but they returned
at night thoroughly disgusted ; the nimble
Basé had been before them, most probably attracted
to the carcase by the cloud of vultures that had
gathered in the' air. Nothing remained but the
bones and skull of the elephant, the flesh and the
ivory had been stolen. The tracks of a great number
of men were left upon the ground, and the.
aggageers were fortunate to return without an attack
from overwhelming numbers.
After hunting and exploring for some days in
this neighbourhood, I determined tb follow the bed
of the Royan to its junction with the Settite; We
started at daybreak, and after a long march along
the sandy bed, hemmed in by high banks, or by