Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 4 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773Bruce, James
History
Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 4 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773
Bruce, James
Egypt -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- History; Natural history -- Ethiopia; Nile River
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 without a scabbard.
As soon as the elephant is found feeding, the horseman rides before
him as near his face as possible; or, if he flies, crosses him in all
directions, crying out, "I am such a man and such a man; 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;
you are but an ass in comparison of them." This nonsense he verily
believes the elephant understands, who, chafed and angry at hearing
the noise immediately before him, seeks to seize him with his trunk
or proboscis, and, intent upon this, 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 alongside of him, and drops his companion 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 tendon of Achilles. This is the
critical moment; the horseman immediately wheels round, and 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 returning, or his companions coming up, pierce him through
with javelins and lances; he then falls to the ground, and expires
with the loss of blood.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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