"The elephant spears were of a kind used from trees. The blade is about
twenty inches long, the handle about twenty-four inches. The end of the
handle is heavily weighted with a lump of several pounds, composed of
clay, cow-dung, and chopped straw, and the weapon, beautifully
sharpened, is dropped upon the elephant's back by a hunter from the
branches of a tree. The constant movement of the heavy handle as it
strikes the boughs when the elephant rushes through the forest, cuts the
animal so terribly that it bleeds to death. The hunters follow on the
blood track until they find the dying animal.
"March 25. - Suleiman, the vakeel, summoned his men to volunteer for the
government service as irregular troops.
"I issued a written proclamation, that should volunteers enlist, the
term of service would be annual, subject to three months' notice, should
any officer or private wish to retire at the expiration of twelve
months.
"The rank of the vakeel would be equivalent to that of major in the
regular army.
"The pay would be equal to that of regular troops.
"If I can form a regiment of 600 irregulars I shall be independent of
troops from Khartoum.
