136 An Account of the 



thefe exertions, ftrong ropes * with running noofes are 

 placed in the outlet by the hunters ; and as foon as he puts 

 a foot within the noofe, it is immediately drawn tight and 

 fattened to the palifades. When all his feet have been made 

 pretty faft, two men place themfelves behind fome bars 

 that run acrofs the Roomee to prevent his kicking them, 

 and with great caution tie his hind-legs together, by puffing 

 a cord alternately from the one to the other, like the figure 

 8, and then fattening thefe turns as above defcribed. After 

 this the Pharah, Dools, &c, are put on in fucceflion, in the 

 fame manner as on the Goondah, only that here the people 

 are in greater fecurity, While thefe ropes are making faft, 

 the other hunters are careful not to go too near, but keep on 

 the outfide of the palifade, and divert his attention as much 

 as they can from thofe employed in fattening them, by fup- 

 plying him with grafs, and fometimes with plantain-leaves 

 and fugar-canes, of which he is remarkably fond, by pre- 

 fcnting a itick, giving him hopes of catching it, or by gently 

 Hi iking or tickling his probofi is. He frequently, however, 

 feizcs the ropes with his trunk, and endeavours to break 

 them, particularly thofe with which his feet are tied, and 

 fometimes tries to bite them through with his grinders (as 

 he has no incifors or front teeth) ; but the hunters then goad 

 him with ftiarpened bamboos, or light fpears, fo as to make 

 him quit his hold. Thofe who are employed in putting the 

 ropes around his body, and over his head, ftand above him, 

 on a fmall kind of platform, confiding of a few bars run 

 acrofs through the openings of the palifades ; and as an 

 elephant cannot fee any thing that is above, and rather 

 behind his head, they are very little incommoded by him, 

 although he appears to fmell them, and endeavours to catch 

 them with his tnank. When the whole apparatus is pro- 

 perly fecured, the ends of the two cables (Dools) which 



* Thefe are of the fame form ajid fizc nearly as the Fhands, but much, 

 flvoiter in proportion. 



were 



