ELEPHANT CATCHING. 235 



absolutely intoxicated with their behaviour. For a few 

 moments he rested his huge cheeks against the cheeks of 

 the females and then I saw a daring mahout steal from 

 a thicket, ani with remarkable quickness fasten a rope 

 around the fore legs of the enraptured bull. During this 

 operation, the females seemed to do all in their power to 

 direct their male companion's attention. The other ma- 

 hout tied a long cable to the hind leg of the victimized ani- 

 mal, and secured the other end to a stout tree. The mon- 

 ster was thus a captive. The mahputs ran away through 

 the thicket, and then the females turned away to come 

 back to us ; and as they trotted towards our position, they 

 occasionally looked back, as if in derision. In the meantime, 

 the bull discovering his ignominous condition, attempted 

 to retreat. But the ropes checked him, and he then be- 

 came furious, throwing himself down and plunging his 

 tusks into the earth till the dirt and leaves were whirled 

 in showers around. But though the tree bent till we were 

 fearful that it would be torn down, the ropes stood the 

 tug. The wild females ran away as if aware of what had 

 happened to their lord. For about a half hour the struggles 

 of the captive monster continued, and then he sank upon 

 the ground completely exhausted ; whereupon we rode up 

 to examine his proportions. Our mahouts, having resumed 

 their seats upon the necks of the faithful female elephants 

 followed us, raising a shout of triumph as their huge 



