Sagacity. 141 



some still struggling and writhing in feverish excitement, 

 whilst others, in exhaustion and despair, lay calm and 

 motionless, except that, from time to time, they heaped 

 fresh dust upon their heads. The mellow notes of a 

 Kandyan flute, which was played at a distance, had a 

 striking effect upon one or more of them ; they turned 

 their heads in the direction from which the music came, 

 expanded their broad ears, and were evidently soothed 

 with, the plaintive sound. The two little ones alone 

 still roared for freedom ; they stamped their feet, and 

 blew clouds of dust over their shoulders, brandishing 

 their little trunks aloft, and threatened every one who 

 came within their reach. 



At first the older ones, when secured, spurned every 

 offer of food, trampled it under foot, and turned haughtily 

 away. A few, however, as they became more composed, 

 could not resist the temptation of the juicy stems of the 

 plantain, but rolling them under foot, till they detached 

 the layers, they raised them in their trunks, and com- 

 menced to chew them listlessly. 



On the whole, whilst the sagacity, the composure, and 

 docility of the decoys were such as to excite lively 

 astonishment, it was not possible to withhold high admi- 

 ration from the calm and dignified demeanour of the 

 captives. Their entire bearing was at variance with the 

 representation made by some of the " sportsmen " who 

 harass them, that they are treacherous, savage, and 

 revengeful ; when tormented by the guns of their perse- 

 cutors, they no doubt display their powers and sagacity 

 in efforts to retaliate or escape ; but here their every 



