232 TAME ELEPHANTS. 



words " Oh ! the Cobra !" sounded in my ears, I fainted 

 away. 



When my senses resumed their sway, I found myself in 

 the open air, lying upon some straw. It was about sunrise. 

 By my side were my anxious friend, Mr. Barrill, and the 

 Parsees. When I opened my eyes, and raised myself, 

 they were astonished ; and when I assured them I had not 

 been bitten by the terrible serpent, they expressed their 

 joy in the most enthusiastic ways, among which embracing 

 was the most notable. 



After a rude but abundant meal, we resumed our route, 

 keeping within sight of the Sabbematty's bright waters, 

 and after a day of difficult jungle travelling, during which 

 we saw the traces of large animals, but not the animals 

 themselves, we reached a village, situated upon a small 

 creek, about a mile from the river. Here we were some- 

 what excited by the sight of three elephants, tamed for 

 hunting and travelling purposes. Two were cows, the 

 other a magnificent bull. The owner of these animals 

 was the proprietor of the village and a considerable 

 quantity of the surrounding land. He was a middle-aged 

 Parsee, of urbane manners and intelligent countenance. 

 Our Parsee servants soon brought us into intimate ac- 

 quaintance with him, and we Were invited to remain at 

 his handsome residence for several days. In regard to 

 the hunting prospects in the adjacent country, he informed 



