240 IN THE INDIAN JUNGLE. 



koonkies were selected. The jemadar, All, and my- 

 self were the mahouts, and I drove Motee Goocha, 

 with Sanderson Sahib on the pad behind me. A 

 strong cable noose (lassoo) was on the neck before 

 me, and made fast at the other end to Motee 

 Goocha's girth. We were to go five miles, to a 

 village which Luxa had looted that night. When 

 we got near the village some of the villagers who 

 were hiding in the forest told us that Luxa was 

 still at the village eating paddy. Sanderson Sahib 

 told the jemadar to keep the koonkies some distance 

 behind, and while we were fighting Luxa they were 

 to get behind and try and surround it, so that it 

 could not run away. We went along quietly, I 

 encouraging Motee Goocha the while, but he wanted 

 no encouraging ; he was only too ready for the fight. 

 I could tell that by the feel of his jaws on my toes. 

 With knees and feet, we mahouts can tell all the 

 feelings of an elephant when we are seated behind 

 its ears. Motee Goocha's were now worked con- 

 vulsively, so I knew he scented a fight. The rogue 

 watched us approach, but did not take any notice, 

 as elephants see badly, and it did not perceive San- 

 derson Sahib or myself, but probably mistook Motee 

 Goocha for a wild one. When we got within fifty 

 yards it scented us and began trumpeting and 

 screaming and kicking the dust towards us. It 

 advanced a few paces as if to frighten us ; and 

 finding we still approached, it threw forward 

 its ears, backed a few paces and then came on with 

 a rush. ' Asthe, Bayta / Asthe / (easy, my son ! 

 easy). Don't waste your breath on that son of 



