Sensitiveness. 133 



was applied to feel its position, and if possible remove it 

 before the noose could be drawn tight. 



One practice was incessant with almost the entire 

 herd : in the intervals between their struggles they beat 

 the ground with their fore-feet, and taking up the dry 

 earth in a coil of the trunk, they flung it dexterously over 

 every part of their body. Even when lying down the 

 sand within reach was thus collected and scattered over 

 their limbs ; then inserting the extremity of the trunk in 

 their mouths, they withdrew a quantity of water, which 

 they discharged over their backs, repeating the operation 

 again and again, till the dust was thoroughly saturated. 

 I was astonished at the quantity of water thus applied, 

 which was sufficient when the elephant, as was generally 

 the case, had worked the spot where he lay into a hollow, 

 to convert its surface into a coating of mud. Seeing that 

 the herd had been now twenty-four hours without access 

 to water of any kind, surrounded by watch-fires, and ex- 

 hausted by struggling and terror, the supply of moisture 

 an elephant is capable of containing in the receptacle at- 

 tached to his stomach must be very considerable. 



The conduct of the tame ones during all these pro- 

 ceedings was truly wonderful. They displayed the most 

 perfect conception of every movement, both of the object 

 to be attained, and of the means to accomplish it. They 

 manifested the utmost enjoyment in what was going on. 

 There was no ill-humour, no malignity in the spirit dis- 

 played, in what was otherwise a heartless proceeding, but 

 they set about it in a way that showed a thorough relish 

 for it, as an agreeable pastime. Their caution was as 



