338 



THE ELEPHANT. 



[Part VIII. 



On overtaking the game their courage is as con- 

 spicuous as their sagacity. If they liave confidence 

 in the sportsman for whom they are finding, they will 

 advance to the very heel of the elephant, slap him on 

 the quarter, and then convert his timidity into anger, 

 till he turns upon his tormentor and exposes his front to 

 receive the bullet which is awaiting him.' 



So fearless and confident are they that two men, 

 without aid or attendants, will boldly attempt to capture 

 the largest sized elephant. Then" only weapon is a 

 flexible rope made of elk's or buffalo's hide, with which 

 it is their object to secure one of the hind legs. This 

 they effect either by following in his footsteps when in 

 motion or by stealing close up to him when at rest, and 

 availing themselves of the propensity of the elephant at 

 such moments to swing his feet backwards and forwards, 

 they contrive to slip a noose over his hind leg. 



At other times this is achieved by spreading the 

 noose on the ground partially concealed by roots and 



of the Singhalese hunters to be strictly 

 correct, the height at the shoulders 

 being precisely twice the circuui- 

 ference of the fore foot. 



1 Major Skinnek, late the Chief 

 Officer at the head of the Commission 

 of Roads, in Ceylon, in writing to me, 

 mentions an anecdote illustrative of 

 the daring of the Panickeas. " I 

 once saw," he says, " a very beautiful 

 example of the confidence with which 

 these fellows, from their knowledge 

 of the elephants, meet their woi-st 

 defiance. It was in Neuera-Kalawa ; 

 I was bivouacking on the bank of a 

 river, and had been kept out so late 

 tliat I did not get to my tent until 

 between 9 and 10 at night. On our 

 return towards it we passed several 

 single elephants making their way to 

 the nearest water, but at length we 

 came upon a large herd which had 

 taken possession of the only road by 

 which we could pass, and which no 



intimidation would induce to move 

 off. I had some Panickeas with me ; 

 they knew the herd, and counselled 

 extreme caution. After trying eveiy 

 device we could think of for a length 

 of time, a little old jNIoorman of the 

 party came to me and requested we 

 should all retire to a distance. He 

 then took a couple of chules (flam- 

 beaux of di-ied wood, or coco-nut 

 leaves), one in each hand, and waving 

 them above his head till they fiamed 

 out fiercely, he advanced at a de- 

 liberate pace to within a few yards of 

 the elephant who was acting as leader 

 of the party, and who was gi'owling 

 and trumpeting in his rage ; and 

 flourished the flaming torches in his 

 face. The effect was instantaneous ; 

 the whole herd dashed away in a pa- 

 nic, bellowing, screaming, and crash- 

 ing through the imderwood, whilst 

 we availed ourselves of the open path 

 to make our way to our tents." 



