Capturing Elephants. 1 1 3 



mahout singles out one, generally a good-looking 

 three-parts grown tusker, as they fetch the largest 

 prices when broken, but if no young male is present 

 then a good female is selected. Occasionally a full- 

 grown tusker or even a mucknah is snared, but they 

 give a great deal of trouble to catch, and to rear after- 

 wards, as very many, from their stubborn resistance, 

 get so badly cut by the rope forming the noose, that 

 mortification sets in and destroys them. The large 

 merchants who send out these parties, do not 

 encourage the capture of any but half or three- 

 quarters grown calves, but occasionally when they 

 obtain a prize in the shape of a high caste male, they 

 forgive the transgressors, yet if their time has been 

 wasted in catching useless animals, all the men engaged 

 in the hunting operations are heavily fined. The 

 mahout on his koonkie rushes at full speed after the 

 brute selected, endeavours to separate it from the herd, 

 and then for half an hour or more it is a case of devil 

 take the hindmost ! The plain where the hunt takes 

 place is covered with longish grass with scattered 

 trees, and its inequalities cannot be seen. One 

 moment you think the elephant and its riders must 

 go heels over head, the next that all must fall 

 backwards. Whatever the dangers, there must be no 

 diminution of speed, whether you break your neck 

 or dislocate that of your steed. Full pelt you must go 

 and bring your quarry to a standstill before it can 

 get second wind, and the superior training and con- 

 dition of your elephant enables you to do this in 

 half or three quarters of an hour, perhaps longer if 

 you meet a "Deerfoot," But what a time that is ! 

 Unless your arms are well trained and muscular, and 



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