ELEPHANT CATCHING. 233 



us that both tigers and elephants had recently been seen 

 in the jungles. Such intelligence was precisely the kind 

 of rein to hold us at the village. That night we retired 

 to repose, with heads swarming with jungles, elephants, 

 tigers, and all the incidents of Indian sport. 



The next morning, our host conducted us to view his 

 elephants. During this visit, Mr. Barrill said that he 

 should like to see an illustration of the manner in 

 which elephants are caught in India. The intimation was 

 sufficient, for the kindly Parsee told us that, if possible, 

 we should be gratified that very day, and we immediately 

 returned to the house to make preparations for the sport. 



A howdah, such as is used in travelling on the elephant 

 in the Indies, was placed on the bull, while the cows were 

 left completely unshackled. A mahout, or driver, how- 

 ever, was seated upon the neck of each of these large ani- 

 mals, and they now carried heavy ropes ta be used in the 

 capture. These men were skilled in the management of 

 elephants. Our host, Mr. Barrill, the two Parsees, and 

 myself, all well-armed with guns and spears, took our 

 seats in the howdah the orders were given to the ma- 

 houts and then we started amid the shouts of the villagers, 

 for the jungles. 



Obedient to orders, the mahouts drove the female ele- 

 phants far in advance and kept a keen watch for the mon- 

 strous game from the moment they entered the high grafts 



20* 



