146 Anecdotal Natural History. 



A tiger-skin is procured and stuffed, in order to 

 resemble as far as possible the form of the living animal. 

 This is continually presented to the elephant until 

 he loses his natural fear of the striped skin. 



The next step is to teach the animal to gore his foe 

 with his tusks, and trample him under foot. 



Next, a boy is placed inside the skin, in order to 

 counterfeit the motions of the living tiger, and, 

 finally, a dead animal is substituted for the stuffed skin. 



Yet, with all the preliminary training, the elephant 

 is seldom to be depended upon in the hour of actual 

 danger, the rush of the furious tiger often causing the 

 huge animal to turn tail, and fly before the onslaught 

 of its foe. 



During these expeditions, the animal is guided by a 

 driver, or 'mahout,' who sits astride upon the neck, 

 directing his charge by means of a spiked hook, or 

 'haunkus,' which is placed against the head of the 

 elephant in such a manner as to convey the driver's 

 instructions to the animal. The hunters ride in a 

 ' howdah,' or car, which is fastened upon the elephant's 

 back. 



The elephants intended for domestication are cap- 

 tured in two ways. In the first of these, ' koomkies, 1 

 or trained female elephants are employed, which 

 divert the attention of the intended captive from his ap- 

 proaching foes, who even creep beneath his body 

 without alarming him, and place nooses of strong rope 

 round his limbs. The ropes are then fastened to con- 

 venient trees, the koomkies called off, and the elephant 

 finds himself a prisoner. For a time he struggles to 

 release himself from his bonds, but finally yields to 

 his captors, and is led off to a place of security. 



The second method of capturing the elephants is of 

 a far more comprehensive nature, all the members of 

 one or more herds being included in the attack. 



