136 The Wild Elephant. 



but it is impossible to see an elephant fanning himself 

 without being struck by the singular elegance of motion 

 which he displays. The tame ones, too, indulged in the 

 luxury of dusting themselves with sand, by flinging it 

 from their trunks; but it was a curious illustration of 

 their delicate sagacity, that so long as the mahout was on 

 their necks, they confined themselves to flinging the dust 

 along their sides and stomach, as if aware, that to throw 

 it over their heads and back would cause annoyance to 

 their riders. 



One of the decoys which rendered good service, and 

 was obviously held in special awe by the wild herd, was a 

 tusker belonging to Dehigame Rate-mahat-meya. It was 

 not that he used his tusks for purposes of off"ence, but he 

 was enabled to insinuate himself between two elephants 

 by wedging them in where he could not force his head ; 

 besides which they assisted him in raising up the fallen 

 and refractory with greater ease. In some instances 

 where the intervention of the other decoys failed to 

 reduce a wild one to order, the mere presence and 

 approach of the tusker seemed to inspire fear, and insure 

 submission, without more active intei^vention. 



I do not know whether it was the surprising qualities 

 exhibited by the tame elephants that cast the courage 

 and dexterity of the men into the shade, but even when 

 supported by the presence, the sagacity, and co-operation 

 of these wonderful creatures, the part sustained by the 

 noosers can bear no comparison with the address and 

 daring displayed by the picador and matador in a Spanish 

 bull-fight. They certainly possessed great quickness of 



