ELEPHANT-CATCHERS OF CEYLOX. 441 



of a stranger would fail to discover a trace of its passage, and 

 on through forests strewn with dry leaves, where it seems im- 

 possible to perceive a footstep. Here they are guided by a 

 bent or broken twig, or by a leaf dropped from the animal's 

 mouth on which they can detect the pressure of a tooth. If at 

 fault, they fetch a circuit like a setter, till lighting on some 

 fresh marks, they go ahead again with renewed vigour. So 

 delicate is the sense of smell in the elephant, and so indispen- 

 sable is it to go against the wind in approaching him, that the 

 Panickeas, on those occasions when the wind is so still that its 

 direction cannot be otherwise discerned, will suspend the film 

 of a gossamer to determine it, and shape their course accord- 

 ingly. On overtaking the game, their courage is as conspi- 

 cuous as their sagacity. If they have confidence in the sports- 

 man for whom they are finding, they will advance to the very 

 heel of the elephant, slap him on the quarter, and then convert 

 his timidity into anger, till he turns upon his tormentor, and 

 exposes his heavy front to receive the bullet which is awaiting 

 him. So fearless and confident are they, that two men 

 without aid or attendants will boldly attempt to capture the 

 largest-sized elephant. Their only weapon is a flexible rope 

 made of buffalo's hide, with which it is their object to secure 

 one of the hind-legs. This they effect either by following in 

 his footsteps when in motion, or by stealing close up to him 

 when at rest, and availing themselves of the propensity of the 

 elephant at such moments to sling his feet backwards and 

 forwards, they contrive to slip a noose over his hind-leg. 



' At other times, this is achieved by spreading the noose on 

 the ground, partially concealed by roots and leaves, beneath a 

 tree on which one of the party is stationed, whose business it is 

 to lift it suddenly by means of a cord, raising it on the elephant's 

 leg at the moment when his companion has succeeded in pro- 

 voking him to place his foot within the circle, the other end 

 having been previously made fast to the stem of a tree. Should 

 the noosing be effected in open ground, and no tree of sufficient 

 strength at hand round which to wind the rope, one of them 

 allowing himself to be pursued by the enraged elephant, entices 

 him towards the nearest grove, when his companion, dexter- 

 ously laying hold of the rope as it trails along the ground, 

 suddenly coils it round a suitable stem, and brings the fugitive 



