34 THE KING'S MAHOUT 



house " as results on this occasion you have not 

 elsewhere seen. The tusker moves not swiftly but 

 with overwhelming momentum, and not infre- 

 quently an offender is sent quite off its feet sur- 

 prised and wiser, rolling in the dust. 



The actual catching consists in slipping the 

 noose, held at the end of the bamboo prod by the 

 second mahout, over the elephant's hind foot. 

 When the noose is successfully placed it is at once 

 pulled taut, and the end of the rope which has been 

 attached to the tame tusker's rattan girdle is let go, 

 to be subsequently, as occasion offers, carried by 

 a dismounted mahout to the edge of the enclosure, 

 where other attendants fasten it to the post, and 

 take in the slack as the captive is pushed back by 

 the tuskers. When the victim is snubbed fairly 

 close to the post comes the putting on of the rattan 

 collar, which is accomplished by mahouts mounted 

 on two tame elephants that hold the victim between 

 them. With the collar lashed on, the captive is 

 butted out through the gate, where he is pinned 

 between the tuskers and fastened to them by the 

 collars they also wear for this very purpose. Then, 

 thus handcuffed, with noose rope trailing and a 

 third elephant behind to keep him moving, the 

 captive is carried off to the stables and securely 

 tied up. And so endeth the liberty of that 

 elephant. 



