File:Wild beasts and their ways - reminiscences of Europe, Asia, Africa and America (1890) (14594041270).jpg

Identifier: wildbeaststheirw00bake (find matches)
Title: Wild beasts and their ways : reminiscences of Europe, Asia, Africa and America
Year: 1890 (1890s)
Authors: Baker, Samuel White, Sir, 1821-1893
Subjects: Baker, Samuel White, Sir, 1821-1893 Animal behavior Hunting
Publisher: London New York : Macmillan
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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lephants, having travelledmany miles of thirsty wilderness, hurry down the incline towardsthe welcome river. Crash goes a leading elephant into a well-concealed pitfall! To the right and left the frightened membersof the herd rush at the unlooked-for accident, but there are manyother pitfalls cunningly arranged to meet this sudden panic, andseveral more casualties may arise, which add to the captures onthe following morning, when the trappers arrive to examine theposition of their pits. The elephants are then attacked withspears while in their helpless position, until they at length succumbthrough loss of blood. There is another terrible method of destroying elephants inCentral Africa. During the dry season, when the withered herbagefrom 10 to 14 feet in height is most inflammable, a large herd ofelephants may be found in the middle of such high grass that theycan only be perceived should a person be looking down from someelevated point. If they should be espied by some native hunter,
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OS in THE ELEPHANT 59 he would immediately give due notice to the neighbourhood, andin a short time the whole population would assemble for the hunt.This would be arranged by forming a circle of perhaps two miles indiameter, and simultaneously firing the grass so as to create a ringof flames around the centre. An elephant is naturally afraid of fire,and it has an instinctive horror of the crackling of flames when thegrass has been ignited. As the circle of fire contracts in approach-ing the encirled herd, they at first attempt retreat until they becomeassured of their hopeless position ; they at length become desperate,being maddened by fear, and panic-stricken by the wild shouts ofthe thousands who have surrounded them. At length, half-suffocated by the dense smoke, and terrified by the close approachof the roaring flames, the unfortunate animals charge recklesslythrough the fire, burnt and blinded, to be ruthlessly speared bythe bloodthirsty crowd awaiting this last stampede. Someti

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