THE KING'S MAHOUT 33 



they blow over everything in sight, including their 

 own legs ; some utter the mouthing low note ; some 

 rap the ground with their trunks, thus knocking 

 out several peculiar rattling crackling high notes. 

 The calves squeak through their little trunks 

 shrilly and frequently. 



The programme extends over three days ; on the 

 first, after the herd is corralled, the head mogul of 

 the royal stables points out the young elephants to 

 be caught ; on the second the selected captives are 

 noosed; and on the third day the remaining ele- 

 phants are driven out and across the river and into 

 the jungle to wander at will, until such time as 

 his majesty issues commands for another royal 

 " hunt." 



The most interesting feature of the performance 

 in the kraal is the work of the trained elephants. 

 You would never think from the peaceful, mild 

 countenance of the tusker, that he is in league with 

 the men on his back. He is the most casual thing 

 you can imagine, sidling up to the victim in manner 

 unpremeditated and entirely friendly. It is the 

 same unhurried, unrelaxing work he did in the 

 jungle under the eye of Choo, who is now no doubt 

 viewing proceedings critically from the covered 

 platform. Sometimes a cantankerous elephant is 

 looking for a fight ; and then the tusker is a busi- 

 ness-like and effective bouncer, and such " rough 



3 



