HUNTING ADVENTURES. 



when his natural prudence gives way to the more powerful im 

 pulses of terror or desire. "The mode of getting elephants out 

 of pits," according to Mr. Williamson, '" is somewhat curious, but 

 extremely simple. The animal is for the most part retained unti, 

 sufficiently tractable to be conducted forth ; when large bundles of 

 jungle grass tied up into sheaves being thrown to him, he is gra- 

 dually brought to the surface, at least to such an elevation as may 

 enable him to step out." The elephant will do the same if he is 

 swamped in boggy ground, thrusting the bundles of grass and 

 straw into the yielding earth with his heavy feet, and placing 

 th*-m so around him with his trunk that he at lasts obtains a firm 

 footing. Pliny, who mentions the manner of taking elephants in 

 pits, says that the companions of the unfortunate animal who is 

 thus captured will throw branches and masses of earth into the 

 hole to assist in his deliverance. 



In Nepaul, and in the countries bordering on the northern fron- 

 tiers of India, where the elephants are of a small size, they are 

 often captured by the natives with a phaun, or slip knot. Thrs 

 practice has some analogy with the custom of taking horses with 

 the lasso, m the Pampas. The hunter, seated on a docile ele- 

 phant, round whose body the cord is fastened, singles out one 

 from the wild herd ; and cautiously approaching, throws his pliable; 

 rope in such a manner that it rests behind the ears, and over the 

 brows of the animal pursued. He instinctively curls up his trunk, 

 making an effort to remove the rope ; which, with great adroitness 

 on the part of the hunter, is then passed forward over the neck. 

 Another hunter next comes up, who repeats the process ; and 

 thus the creature is held by the two tame elephants, to whom 

 the phauns are attached, till his strength is exhausted. It would 

 appear quite impossible to take a large elephant in this manner ; 

 although with those of a peculiarly small breed the operation doe? 

 not appear more difficult than that of securing the wild horse or 

 the buffalo in the plains of South America. 



It is remarkable that in every mode of capturing the wild ele- 

 phant, man avails himself of the docility of individuals of the same 

 upecies, which he has already subdued. Birds may be taught to 



