TIGERLAND 



drove it amongst the other elephants. These had mean- 

 while been unchained, and, mounted by their drivers, 

 were kept standing at their pickets ; but as the brute 

 approached they gradually closed round it. The animal, 

 finding itself surrounded, made frantic efforts to break 

 through the living wall, but many of the elephants were as 

 powerful as itself ; some, moreover, were armed with 

 sharp tusks which, under their drivers' orders, they made 

 use of with considerable effect. 



Meanwhile the " runaway's " mahout, seated on one of 

 these " tuskers " behind the driver, was directing the 

 operations, and as the circle closed round the struggling 

 beast, watching his opportunity, he suddenly sprang on 

 its neck, and, slipping his feet quickly through the rope 

 stirrups, established himself securely. The elephant, taken 

 by surprise, ceased struggling for the moment, then, realizing 

 the situation, redoubled its efforts to get free. Swaying 

 violently from side to side, so far as space would admit, 

 it attempted to shake its rider off, and failing in this, 

 tried to seize him with its trunk. But the man was 

 now its master. Comparatively safe in the position he 

 occupied, and armed with his formidable driving-hook, 

 he used it with unsparing energy, delivering his blows 

 with all the force he could command, and occasionally 

 driving the point of the weapon deep into the skull, 

 till the animal screamed with pain and fury. The 

 punishment, though severe, was under the circumstances 

 absolutely necessary, since there was no other means 

 of bringing the beast under control. Yet, in spite of 

 this rough handling, it fought desperately for a time, 

 and until the other elephants pressed so closely round it 

 as to prevent its struggling longer. 



The animal was now fairly at the mercy of its rider. 

 Completely hemmed in by the huge bodies of its comrades, 

 it was as incapable of movement as if enclosed within 

 four walls, while the blows continuing to descend upon 

 its head with pitiless rapidity soon reduced it to a state 

 of absolute subjection. 



The surrounding elephants were now withdrawn, and 

 the animal ordered to " baith," and then to " maill " 

 signifying respectively to " kneel down " and " get up." 

 42 



