J 



8 The Wild Elephant. 



to the herd. It retreated slowly, shouting all the way, 

 and pausing at every step to look back. It then attached 

 itself to the largest female remaining in the group, and 

 placed itself across her fore legs, Avhilst she hung down 

 her trunk over its side and soothed and caressed it. 

 Here it continued moaning and lamenting, till the 

 noosers had left off securing its mother, when it instantly 

 returned to her side ; but as it became troublesome 

 again, attacking every one who passed, it was at last tied 

 up by a rope to an adjoining tree, to which the other 

 young one was also tied. The second little one, equally 

 with its playmate, exhibited great affection for its dam ; 

 it went willingly with its captor as far as the tree to which 

 she was fastened, and in passing her stretched out its 

 trunk and tried to rejoin her ; but finding itself forced 

 along, it struggled and caught at every twig and branch 

 within its reach, screaming with grief and disappointment. 



These two little creatures were the most vociferous of 

 the whole herd, their shouts were incessant, they struggled 

 to attack everyone within reach ; and as their bodies were 

 more lithe and pliant than those of greater growth, their 

 contortions were quite wonderful. The most amusing 

 thing was, that in the midst of all their agony and afflic- 

 tion, the httle fellows seized on every article of food 

 that was thrown to them, and munched and roared simul- 

 taneously. 



Amongst the last of the elephants noosed was the 

 rogue. Though far more savage than the others, he 

 joined in none of their charges and assaults on the 

 fences, as they uniformly drove him off and would not 



