122 The Wild Elephant. 



were very large, and two were little creatures but a few 

 months old. One of the large ones was a " rogue," and 

 being unacknowledged by the rest of the herd, he was 

 not admitted to their circle, although permitted to stand 

 near them. 



Meanwhile, preparations were making outside to con- 

 duct the tame elephants into the corral, in order to 

 secure the captives. Noosed ropes were in readiness ; 

 and far apart from all stood a party of the out-caste 

 Rodiyas, the only tribe who will touch a dead carcase, 

 to whom, therefore, the duty is assigned of preparing 

 the fine flexible rope for noosing, which is made from 

 the fresh hides of the deer and the buffalo. 



At length, the bars which secured the entrance to 

 the corral were cautiously withdrawn, and two trained 

 elephants passed stealthily in, each ridden by its mahout 

 (or ponnekeHa, as the keeper is termed in Ceylon), and 

 one attendant ; and carrying a strong collar, formed 

 by coils of rope made from coco-nut fibre, from which 

 hung on either side cords of elk's hide, prepared with 

 a ready noose. Along with these, and concealed behind 

 them, the headmen of the "■ cooroowe'" or noosers, 

 crept in, eager to secure the honour of taking the first 

 elephant, a distinction which this class jealously contests 

 with the mahouts of the chiefs and temples. He was a 

 wiry little man, nearly seventy years old, who had served 

 in the same capacity under the last Kandyan king, and 

 he wore two silver bangles, which had been conferred 



occasion here described, the object w.is not sought to entrap more than 

 l)eing to secure only as many as were could conveniently be attended to and 

 required for the Government stud, it trained after capture. 



