Chap. V.] THE CAPTIVES. 357 



therefore, the duty is assigned of preparing the fine flexible 

 rope for noosing, which is made from the fresh hides of 

 the deer and the buffalo. 



At lenoth, the bars which secured the entrance to the 

 corral were cautiously withdrawn, and two trained ele- 

 phants passed stealthily in, each ridden by his mahout, 

 (or ponnekella, as he is termed m Ceylon,) and one attend- 

 ant ; and, carrying a strong collar, formed by coils of rope 

 made from coco-nut fibre, fi'om which hung on either 

 side cords of elk's liide, prepared with a ready noose. 

 Along with them, and concealed behind them, the 

 headman of the " cooroowe" or noosers, crept hi, eager 

 to secm^e the honour of taking the first elephant, a dis- 

 tinction which this class jealously contests with the 

 mahouts of the chiefs and the temples. He was a wiry 

 httle man, nearly seventy years old, who had served in the 

 same capacity under the Kandyan king, and wore two 

 silver bangles, which had been conferred on liim in testi- 

 mony of his prowess. He was accompanied by his son, 

 named Kanghanie, equally renowned for his coiu'age and 

 dexterity. 



On tliis occasion ten tame elephants were in attend- 

 ance ; two were the property of an adjoining temple 

 (one of which had been caught only the year before, 

 yet it was now ready to assist in captimng others), 

 four belonged to the neighbouring chiefs, and the rest, 

 including the two which now entered the corral, were 

 part of the Government stud. Of the latter, one was 

 of prodigious age, having been in the service of the 

 Dutch and Enghsli Governments in succession for upwards 

 of a centirry.^ The other, called by her keeper " Siri- 

 beddi," was about fifty years old, and distinguished 

 for her gentleness and docihty. The latter was a most 

 accomphshed decoy, and evinced the utmost relish for 



' This elephant is since dead ; she 1 now in the Museum of the Natural 

 grew infirm and diseased, and died at Historj' Society at Belfast. 

 Colomho in 184S. Her skeleton is j 



A A .'? 



