THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA. 113 



state to be removed, tame males, or decoy 

 females, are used, which lead him to the place 

 where he is to be picketed. Here the mahout, 

 or keeper, redoubles his care and caresses, and 

 seldom fails to become a favourite, and often an 

 object of great attachment to the animal. 



The most singular method, however, which has 

 been adopted for taking Elephants, is by the 

 assistance of decoy females, which enter into the 

 undertaking as if they were as much interested 

 in it as their owners. This is chiefly practised 

 with those males which have been driven off from 

 the herd, and are wandering about by themselves. 

 They are known by the title of sauns, and are 

 valuable to dealers, being the second in size and 

 strength to the leader of the herd. Two decoy 

 Elephants, or koomkies, as they are termed, are 

 generally employed in this business, attended by 

 the mahout, provided with a black covering and 

 strong ropes. When the wild animal is discovered, 

 the decoys approach as near as possible, the 

 mahout mounted, covered with his cloak, and 

 crouching. When afraid of discovery, he slides 

 down, and the females proceed alone on their 

 treacherous errand, in which they generally suc- 

 ceed so well by caresses, as to distract the atten- 

 tion of the animal, and thus enable the men to bind 

 his legs. Sometimes, during the caresses, he is led 

 towards a tree, and his bonds made fast to it. The 



