Nephi says that he returned to camp "bearing the beasts which I had slain" (1 Nephi 16:32). According to Potter and Wellington, Nephi brought back "beasts" (plural). The animals must have been small enough for him to carry down the steep slopes. This might rule out the Ibex (Capra Ibex) which weighs 100-165 lbs (45-75 kg.) and the Wild Goat (capra aegagrus) which weighs 57-200 lbs (26-90 kg.). However there are two other likely candidates for the beasts he hunted at this altitude. One is the Rock Hyrax - Procavia caaapensis (the "Coney" of the Bible). This small animal, 20 inches long, weighing 51/2-10 lbs (2.5-4.6 kg.) lives in colonies high in the mountains. The second, though less likely, possibility is the Sacred Baboon (Papio hamadryas). Troops of these animals have been seen up to 2100 meters (6,825 feet) high and as far north as Taif. These animals are considerably larger than the Hyrax. The females weigh 171/2-33 lbs. (8-15 kg.)f and the males 33-66 lbs. The Sacred Baboon is not found as high as the Hyrax and so it would seem to be less likely that these were Nephi's prey item. The terrain here is too rugged for camels, so Nephi must have traveled to the hunting areas on foot. [George Potter and Richard Wellington, Discovering the Lehi-Nephi Trail, Unpublished Manuscript, 2000, pp. 140-141]
Geographical [Theory Map]: 1 Nephi 16:33-39 Travel to Nahom (Year 005-006)
“I Did Return to Our Tents Bearing the Beasts Which I Had Slain”
Nephi says that he returned to camp "bearing the beasts which I had slain" (1 Nephi 16:32). According to Potter and Wellington, Nephi brought back "beasts" (plural). The animals must have been small enough for him to carry down the steep slopes. This might rule out the Ibex (Capra Ibex) which weighs 100-165 lbs (45-75 kg.) and the Wild Goat (capra aegagrus) which weighs 57-200 lbs (26-90 kg.). However there are two other likely candidates for the beasts he hunted at this altitude. One is the Rock Hyrax - Procavia caaapensis (the "Coney" of the Bible). This small animal, 20 inches long, weighing 51/2-10 lbs (2.5-4.6 kg.) lives in colonies high in the mountains. The second, though less likely, possibility is the Sacred Baboon (Papio hamadryas). Troops of these animals have been seen up to 2100 meters (6,825 feet) high and as far north as Taif. These animals are considerably larger than the Hyrax. The females weigh 171/2-33 lbs. (8-15 kg.)f and the males 33-66 lbs. The Sacred Baboon is not found as high as the Hyrax and so it would seem to be less likely that these were Nephi's prey item. The terrain here is too rugged for camels, so Nephi must have traveled to the hunting areas on foot. [George Potter and Richard Wellington, Discovering the Lehi-Nephi Trail, Unpublished Manuscript, 2000, pp. 140-141]
Geographical [Theory Map]: 1 Nephi 16:33-39 Travel to Nahom (Year 005-006)