Chap. VI.] CONDUCT IN CAPTIVITY. 383 



plaintive chaunt, interlarded witli endearing epithets, such 

 as " ho ! my son," or " ho ! my father," or " my mother," 

 as may be appUcable to the age and sex of tlie captive. 

 The elephant is at first furious, and strikes in all directions 

 with his trunk ; but the men in front receive all these 

 blows on the points of their weapons, until the extremity 

 of the trunk is so sore that the animal curls it up close, and 

 seldom after attempts to use it. The fii'st dread of man's 

 power being thus established, the process of taking him 

 to bathe between two tame elephants is greatly facihtated, 

 and by lengthening the neck tie, and drawing the feet 

 together as close as possible, the process of lapng him 

 down in the water is finally accomphshed by the keepers 

 pressing the sharp point of their hendoos upon the back- 

 bone. 



For many days the roaring and resistance which 

 attend the operation are considerable, and it often re- 

 quires the sagacious interference of the tame elephants 

 to control the refractory wild ones. It soon, however, 

 becomes practicable to leave the latter alone, only taking 

 them to and from the staU by the aid of a decoy. 

 This step lasts, under ordinary treatment, for about 

 three weeks, when an elephant may be taken alone with 

 his legs hobbled, and a man walking backwards in front 

 witli the point of the hendoo always presented to the 

 elephant's head, and a keeper with an iron crook at 

 each ear. On getting into the water the fear of being 

 pricked on his tender back induces him to lie down 

 directly on the crook being only lield over him in terrorem. 

 Once this point lias been achieved, the further process 

 of taming is dependent upon the disposition of the 

 creature. 



The greatest care is requisite, and daily medicines are 

 applied to heal the fearful wounds on the legs wliich even 

 the softest ropes occasion. This is the great difficulty of 

 training ; for the Avounds fester grievously, and many, 

 months and sometimes years will elapse before an elephant 



