Panickeas. 99 



convert his timidity into anger, till he turns upon his tor- 

 mentor and exposes his front to receive the bullet which 

 awaits him.^ 



So fearless and confident are they, that two men, with- 

 out aid or attendants, will boldly attempt to capture the 

 largest-sized elephant. Their only weapon is a flexible 

 rope made of deer's or buffalo's hide, with which it is 

 their object to secure one of the hind legs. This they 

 effect either by following in its footsteps when in motion 

 or by stealing close up to it when at rest, and availing 

 themselves of its well known propensity at such moments 

 to swing the feet backwards and forwards, they contrive 

 to slip a noose over the hind leg. 



At other times this is achieved by spreading the noose 

 on the ground partially concealed by roots and leaves 

 beneath a tree on which one of the party is stationed, 

 whose business it is to hft it suddenly by means of a cord, 



' Major Skinner, the Chief Officer herd, and counselled extreme caution, 

 at the head of the Commission of Roads, After trying every device we could 

 in Ceylon, in writing to me, mentions an think of for a length of time, a little old 

 anecdote illustrative of the daring of Moorman of the party came to me and 

 the Panickeas. " I once saw," he says, requested we should all retire to a 

 " a very beautiful example of the con- distance. He then took a couple of 

 fidence with which these fellows, from chules (flambeaux of dried wood, or 

 their knowledge of the elephants, meet coco-nut leaves), one in each hand, and 

 their worst defiance. It was in Neuera- waving them above his head till they 

 Kalawa; I was bivouacking on the flamed out fiercely, he advanced at a 

 hank of a river, and had been kept out deliberate pace to within a few yards of 

 so late that I did not get to my tent the elephant who was acting as leader 

 until between 9 and 10 at night. On of the party, and who was growling 

 our return towards it we passed several and trumpeting in his rage, and flour- 

 single elephants making their way to ished the flaming torches in his face, 

 the nearest water, but at length we came The effect was instantaneous ; the 

 upon a large herd that had taken pos- whole herd dashed away in a panic, 

 session of the only road by which we bellowing, screaming, and crushing 

 could pass, and which no intimidation through the underwood, whilst we avail- 

 would induce to move off I had some ed ourselves of the open path to mkae 

 Panickeas with me; they knew the our way to our tents." 



