74 HUNTING SINGLE MALE ELEPHANTS. 



can be got to abandon Mmself without reserve to the society of the females, 

 they keep in close attendance upon liim ; and as it is sometimes two days 

 and nights before he can be secured, a party of spare mahouts follows on 

 foot to relieve the riders every twelve hours. For this purpose the tame 

 females are withdrawn one at a time, and the mahout is changed out of 

 view of the wild one. The relieving party also generally has a spare elephant 

 carrying the ropes and chains required when the elephant is secured. 



At night the wild male probably leaves the forest to visit the fields of 

 the adjacent villages, whither he is closely escorted by his treacherous friends. 

 If he enters a field to graze one female is posted at each corner, and by a 

 signal gives notice to the others when he leaves it. This is to avoid the 

 damage which the whole party's entering the corn would cause. 



Towards morning the elephant retires to the forest, and when he shows 

 signs of gomg to sleep the tame ones close round him. Should he not 

 appear to be very somnolently inclined, devices are used to keep him 

 awake, such as moving off all the tame elephants, when he generally 

 follows, so as to keep him without rest, and tire him until he shall resign 

 himself to slumber without reserve. (Some elephants can be got to eat 

 opium in sugar-cane, when, the mahouts say, they are soon reduced to help- 

 lessness, but I have never had an opportunity of using it myself) The 

 tame Delilahs, under the direction of their riders, close round their victim 

 when he is really asleep, and two mahouts slip off with coils of rope and tie 

 tlie slumbering Samson's hind-legs together very securely. Half an hour is 

 frequently spent in doing this. The tame elephants then withdraw, and 

 the men on foot perhaps slap the wild one behind and tell liim to be of 

 good cheer. 



His terror on perceiving men so close to him may be imagined, and his 

 rage and dismay at finding his legs bound together pass description. If he 

 has been secured to a tree he uses every effort of which he is capable to 

 snap his bonds. If his hind-legs have merely been fastened together he 

 makes off as best he can, dragging them after him. The other elephants 

 follow at a distance, and when he is completely exhausted they again 

 approach, keeping out of reach of his tusks, as he will now use them, 

 and the men fasten him to a convenient tree, and camp close at liand. In 

 a day or two a cable is fixed on his neck, and witli one still on one hind- 

 leg, he is led away to an appointed station to be trained. A large propor- 

 tion of tlie fine elephants captured in this way die from the injuries tliey 

 receive from the severe restraints necessary to control them during the first 

 few days. 



