KETUEN TO THE CAPTIVE ELEPHANT. 241 



foi his trouble in gratifying our wishes. The bull elephant 

 presented a bleeding side, but the mahout said that he 

 could dress the gashes, so that they would heal within a 

 week. The remainder of this day was spent in festivity. 

 The next morning, we proceeded on the female elephants 

 to see the effects of hunger in subduing the spirit of the 

 wild elephant. Two of the servants who followed the pro- 

 prietor, carried a small quantity of hay, which was to be 

 given to the captive beast, if he should exhibit a sufficiently 

 docile disposition. Arriving at the spot where the animal 

 was tied, we started him to his feet ; but he made no de- 

 monstration of hostility. On the contrary, he looked im- 

 ploringly at us. A mahout then took some hay in his 

 hand, and boldly advanced towards the suffering bull, 

 proffering the food. The elephant drew back at first ; 

 but, seeing the mahout's kind intention, put out his trunk, 

 and took some of the hay. Then the man retired. As 

 soon as the morsel of hay was dispatched, the captive com- 

 menced calling piteously for more, and after a few minutes 

 the mahout gave him another handful. This was all that 

 could be safely allowed. The mahout then slipped stout 

 ropes over the tusks of the captive, and tied them to those 

 of the females, drawing them up, so that the bull had a 

 female friend on each side of him. The feet were then 

 released, and we set out for the village. The mahouts 



were armed with spears, and as they rode by the side of 



21 



