THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA. 117 



at that period had, of course, some method of 

 capturing them by stratagem ; Aristotle, when 

 describing the hunting of Elephants, (that is, for 

 capture, not destruction,) mentions that tame ones 

 were used, which attacked the wild animals, and 

 these, when wearied or exhausted, were mounted 

 by the keeper or master, and governed into 

 obedience by a spear, a method which would 

 require no little share of courage and coolness. 

 In Africa, where great slaughter of these animals 

 has always been effected, the natives are said to 

 ascend a tree, and to spring on the backs of the 

 passing Elephants, slide down by the tail, and, 

 during their short suspension, hamstring the 

 animal.* 



Let us now see for what purposes this valuable 

 animal is used, after so much risk and labour are 

 expended on its capture and subjection. In the 

 ancient times of the empires of India, Elephants 

 were the indispensable attendants upon a court 

 and upon nobility, and were esteemed the principal 

 among all the immense number of animals which 

 formed part of the royal retinue. In the ninth 

 century, the Emperor Jehengir is said to have 

 possessed twelve thousand of these animals, while, 

 among the nobles of his empire, forty thousand 



* See a very curious old work, Elephantographia 

 Curiosa, 1715. 



