ELEPHANT, 555 



each side of the tame ones. The bars of the gate are then unloosed, 

 and drawn out; and the wild captive darts forward directly be- 

 tween the two tame elephants : he can, however, only advance a 

 little way, as the ropes securing his hind legs still continue fastened 

 to the strong stakes of the toil. In this situation he remains, until 

 the riders mounted on the tame elephants have drawn tight the 

 cords, which bind him to the necks of his half reasoning con- 

 ductors. 



During this operation, he endeavours to undo with his trunk 

 some of the knots which have been made, and often attempts to give 

 a destructive blow to the diminutive creatures so actively engaged 

 in confirming his captivity. But the two tame animals, who are 

 vigilantly observant of all his motions, never fail to prevent him 

 from doing any mischief, by gently lowering his proboscis with their 

 own : if he continue long refractory, they batter him with their 

 heads, and at last produce the most obsequious submission. The 

 nooses of the ropes are then opened, leaving his hind legs at free- 

 dom, and himself entirely disengaged from the snare. The two 

 tame elephants press close on each side of him, and proceed, in 

 pompous procession, to the garden of stalls, where the)- deliver up 

 their charge to experience another species of hardships. The 

 marching off of this venerable trio is a sight truly magnificent, and 

 exhibits a noble specimen of the skill of man, united with the saga- 

 city of the elephant. 



In this manner the prisoner is conducted to a grove, where, if he 

 is of an ordinary size, he is sufficiently secured by being placed 

 lengthways between two trees, to one of which his hind legs are 

 bound, and one of his fore legs to the other. A more complicated 

 apparatus of ropes and stakes is necessary for those which are re- 

 markable for strength and fury. The tame conductors then move 

 away to secure another captive. An elephant may frequently be 

 tamed in eight or ten days, though in other instances months are 

 required. When tamed, they are marched round to Jaffnapatam, 

 there sold by public auction, and thence exported to the opposite 

 continent. 



[Pantologia, 



