THE ELEPHANT. 151 



Mode of taming elephants. 



phant immediately retreats backward, and, on 

 finding himself hemmed in, he runs against the 

 bars of the outlet, and endeavours to break them 

 down by leaping upon them with his fore-feet, 

 and battering them with repeated blows of his 

 head; but in spite of all his exertions he is 

 eventually secured with ropes, and dragged to 

 his proper station by two tame females, assisted 

 by the hunters. 



As soon as each elephant is brought to the ap- 

 pointed place, he is put under the care of a 

 keeper, who is appointed to attend and instruct 

 him. Under this man there are three or four 

 others, who assist in supplying food and water 

 till the animal becomes sufficiently tractable to 

 feed himself. A variety of soothing and cares- 

 sing arts are practised: sometimes the keeper 

 threatens, and even goads him with a long stick 

 pointed with iron; but more generally coaxes 

 and flatters him, scratching his head and trunk 

 with a long bamboo, split at one end into many 

 pieces, and driving away the flies from his sores 

 and bruises. In order to keep him cool, he like- 

 wise squirts water all over him : taking care to 

 stand out of the reach of his trunk. 



In a few days he advances cautiously to his 

 side, and strokes and pats him with his hand, at 

 the same time speaking in a soothing voice; ami 

 after a little while, the animal begins to know 

 his keeper and obey his commands. By degrees 

 the latter becomes so familiar as to mount upon 

 2 



