618 NATURAL HISTORY. 



equal to that exhibited by some individuals of our own species. Still, we 

 must constantly bear in mind that tendency to exaggeration which forms 

 a part of every traveler's luggage. Memory and sympathy are well devel- 

 oped, while revenge is only paralleled or exceeded in the monkeys. Thev 

 have, too, an understanding, and readily learn to perform complex acts, 

 hut nowhere does the intellect of these animals show itself more than in 

 the case of the decoys used in capturing the wild elephants. For the fol- 

 lowing account we are indehted to the work of Tennent just quoted from, 

 his details, however, heing somewhat condensed. 



In Ceylon wild elephants are captured by driving them into a corral 

 formed of trees, interlaced with huge timbers, the whole forming a fence 

 so strong that not even an elephant can break through it or tear it down. 

 The wild elephants being safe inside, two decoys were driven in, each 

 hearing its driver, and the most intelligent one the chief nooser, while the 

 other, a very strong animal, performed the heavier work. The first ele- 

 phant moved along slowly, with an assumed air of indifference. As she 

 approached the herd, the leader advanced towards her, passed his trunk 

 gently over her head, and then went back to his companions, the' decoy 

 following and standing close behind him, so that the nooser could slip the 

 rope around the foot. The danger was perceived, the rope was shaken off, 

 and the wild beast would have punished the man had not the decoy inter- 

 fered and driven him into the herd. The two decoys now pushed in and 

 stood one on either side of the largest animal, while the nooser placed the 

 rope, one end of which was fastened to the collar of the decoy, around the 

 leg. The two tame elephants instantly fell back, one dragging the captive, 

 while the other prevented any interference from the rest of the herd. In 

 order to tie him to a tree he had to be dragged backwards some thirty 

 yards, bellowing in terror, plunging on all sides, and crushing the smaller 

 timber, which bent like reeds beneath his clumsy struggles. At last the 

 rope was wound around the proper tree, but with a coil around the trunk 

 the decoy could not haul the prisoner close up ; so the second tame one. 

 perceiving the danger, left the herd, and pushing the captive head to head. 

 forced him to the tree, while the other hauled in the slack ; and then the 

 noosers hobbled the other legs. 



With the others of the herd, similar tactics were employed; when an 

 elephant seized the ropes wit h her trunk, to sever them with her teeth, a 

 tame elephant pressed them down with her foot. The tame elephants dis- 

 played the most perfect conception of every end to be obtained, and the 

 means necessary to accomplish it, and enjoyed all that was going on. 

 There was no malignity of spirit in the heartless proceeding. Their 

 caution was as remarkable as their sagacity; they never were confused, 



