The Tame Ones. 123 



on him in testimony of his prowess. He was accom- 

 panied by his son, named Ranghani, equally renowned 

 for his courage and dexterity. 



On this occasion ten tame elephants were in attend- 

 ance ; two were the property of an adjoining temple 

 (one of which had been caught but the year before, 

 yet it was now ready to assist in capturing others), four 

 belonged to the neighbouring chiefs, and the rest, in- 

 cluding the two which first entered the corral, were part 

 of the Government stud. Of the latter, one was of 

 great age, having been in the service of the Dutch 

 and English Governments in succession for upwards ot 

 a century. 1 The other, called by her keeper " Siribeddi," 

 was about fifty years old, and distinguished for gentle- 

 ness and docility. She was a most accomplished decoy, 

 and evinced the utmost relish for the sport. Having 

 entered the corral noiselessly, carrying a mahout on her 

 shoulders with the headman of the noosers seated behind 

 him, she moved slowly along with a sly composure and 

 an assumed air of easy indifference ; sauntering leisurely 

 in the direction of the captives, and halting now and then 

 to pluck a bunch of grass or a few leaves as she passed. 

 As she approached the herd, they put themselves in 

 motion to meet her, and the leader, having advanced in 

 front and passed his trunk gently over her head, turned 

 and paced slowly back to his dejected companions. 

 Siribeddi followed with the same listless step, and drew 

 herself up close behind him, thus afiording the nooser 



' This elephant is since dead; she in the Museum of the Natural History 

 grew infirni and diseased, and died at Society at Belfast. 

 Colombo in 1848. Her skeleton is now 



