A geographical historie of Africa, written in Arabicke and Italian by Iohn Leo a More, borne in Granada, and brought vp in Barbarie. Wherein he hath at large described, not onely the qualities, situations, and true distances of the regions, cities, townes, mountaines, riuers, and other places throughout all the north and principall partes of Africa; but also the descents and families of their kings ... gathered partly out of his owne diligent obseruations, and partly out of the ancient records and chronicles of the Arabians and Mores. Before which, out of the best ancient and moderne writers, is prefixed a generall description of Africa, and also a particular treatise of all the maine lands and isles vndescribed by Iohn Leo. ... Translated and collected by Iohn Pory, lately of Goneuill and Caius College in Cambridge

Of the Elephant.

THis wittie beast keepeth in the woods, & is found in great numbers in the forrests of the land of Negros. They vse to go many in one cōpa∣ny; and if they chance to meet with any man, they either shun him, or giue place vnto him. But if the Elephant intendeth to hurt any man, he ca∣steth him on the groūd with his long snout or trunk, & neuer ceaseth tram∣pling

vpon him till he be dead. And although it be a mightie and fierce beast, yet are there great store of them caught by the Ethiopian hunters in manner folowing. These hunters being acquainted with the woodes and* 1.1 thickets where they keepe, vse to make among the trees a rounde hedge of strong boughes and raftes, leauing a space open on the one side therof, and likewise a doore standing vpon the plaine grounde which may bee lift vp with ropes, wherewith they can easily stoppe the said open place or passage. The elephant therefore comming to take his rest vnder the shady boughes, entreth the hedge or inclosure, where the hunters by drawing the saide rope and fastening the doore hauing imprisoned him, descend downe from the trees, and kill him with their arrowes, to the end they may get his teeth and make sale of them. But if the elephant chanceth to breake through the hedge, he murthereth as many men as he can finde. In Ethiopia the higher, and India, they haue other deuises to take the elephant, which least I should seeme ouer-tedious, I passe ouer in silence.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The manner of taking elephants in 〈◊〉〈◊〉.