THE ELEPHANT. l33 



tinder the care of a keeper, who is appointed to at- 

 tend and instruct him. Under this man there are 

 three or four others, who assist in supplying food and 

 water till the animal becomes sufficiently tractable 

 to feed himself. A variety of soothing and ca- 

 ressing arts are practised : sometimes the keeper 

 threatens, and even goads him with along stick point- 

 ed with iron ; but more generally coaxes and flatters 

 him, scratching his head and trunk with a long bam- 

 boo split at one end into many pieces, and driving 

 away the flies from his sores and bruises. In order 

 to keep him cool, he likewise squirts water all over 

 him ; carefully standing out of the reach of his trunk. 



In a few days he advances cautiously to his side, 

 nnd strokes and pats him with his hand, at the same 

 time speaking to him in a soothing voice ; and after 

 a little while, the beast begins to know his keeper 

 and obey his commands. By degrees the latter be- 

 comes famihar, and at length mounts upon his back 

 from one of the tame Elephants ; from hence he gra- 

 dually increases the intimacy as the animal becomes 

 more tame, till at last he is permitted to seat him- 

 self on his neck, from which place he is afterwards to 

 regulate and direct all his motions. While they arc 

 training in this manner, the tame Elephants lead the 

 others out alternately, for the sake of exercise ; and 

 likewise to ease their legs from the cords with which 

 they are tied, and which are apt to gall them, un- 

 less they are regularly slackened and shifted. 



In five or six weeks the Elephant becomes obe- 

 dient to his keeper, his fetters are taken off by de- 

 grees, and generally in about six months he sufFera 



K3 



