Chap. V.] 



THE CAPTIVES. 



363 



As one after another their leaders were entrapped and 

 forced away from them, the remainder of tlie group 

 evinced increased emotion and excitement ; but wliatever 

 may have been their sympatliy for tiieir lost com[)anions, 

 their alarm seemed to prevent them at first from fol- 

 lowing them to the trees to which they had been tied. 

 In passing them afterwards they sometimes stopped, 

 mutuaUy entwined their trunks, lapped them round their 

 hmbs and neck, and exhibited the most touching distress 

 at their detention, but made no attempt to disturb the 

 cords that bound them. 



The variety of disposition in tlie herd as evidenced 

 by the difference of demeanour was very remarkable ; 



ones. I once saw the old chief Mol- 

 legodde ride in amongst a henl of 

 ■wild (.'li^pliaiits, on a sniidl elephant ; 

 so sniiill tliat tlie jVdigar's head was 

 on a level with the back of the 



wild animals : I felt very nervous, 

 but he rode riyht in among: them, 

 and received not the sliglitest mo- 

 lestation." — Letter ^rom Major 

 Skinnkk. 



