78 TRAPPING WILD ANIMALS 



near him, and he gradually becomes more docile. 

 During these two weeks he is fed very lightly be- 

 cause he must be kept in a weakened condition. 



After two or three weeks, according to the dis- 

 position of the elephant, ropes are again attached to 

 his feet, and he is led out of the stocks. This time 

 he wears only the knee-hobbles, which allow him 

 more play. Eight or ten men hold each of the ropes ; 

 his keeper sits on his head with a prod; another 

 crew hold the rope attached to his trunk; and six 

 or eight men follow with rattan whips. The men 

 with the whips beat him continually. At first, in the 

 excitement, he does not mind the whipping; then 

 he finds the pain unbearable. The men on the trunk- 

 ropes lead him about from right to left, while the 

 men on the foot-ropes stand ready to trip him if 

 he tries to bolt. At last he gives a bellow of pain 

 and the whipping stops. 



This one bellow marks a surprising change in the 

 animal. His spirit is broken and he acknowledges 

 that man is his master. The fact that he is instantly 

 fed and petted helps him to make up his mind, of 

 course, and to forget about the old, wild ways of 

 the jungle. Thereafter, a keeper who does not 

 deliberately make him angry can handle him easily. 

 His schooling is brief and he learns readily to turn, 

 kneel, back and pull. In return he is given plenty 

 of food and is tied to a tree instead of being put in 

 the stocks. 



It occasionally happened that an elephant refused 



