Book I. Travels in I ,v D i a. 



55 



piftols inlaid with Silver, he demanded of us what had brought us into that 



Hollander -j, but i'nv.-c.O-men. Thereupon, not underftanding what Nation we 

 were, he fell into a long difcourfe with us about the Government of our Coun- 

 try, and the Grandeur of our King. Six or (even days before, they had taken five 

 or fix Elephants, three whereof had efcap'd, having kill'd ten or twelve of the 

 Natives who aflifted in the C.hace ; in purfuit whereof the General was prepa- 

 ring ; and becaufe we could not ftay to fee the fport, we were contented to inform 

 our felves of the manner of hunting that vaft Animal $ which is thus. They cut 

 out feveral x\lleys or Walks in the Wood, which they dig full of great deep holes 

 and cover with Hurdles flrow'd over with a little earth. Then the Hunters hoop- 

 ing and hollowing, and beating up Drums, with Pikes that have Wild-fire ti'd to 

 the end of- them, force the Elephant into thofe Walks, where he tumbles into the 

 holes, not being able to rife again. Then they fetch Ropes and Chains : and fome 

 they bring under their bellies, others they wind about their legs and trunk, and 

 when they think they have fufficie'ntly hamper^ the Beafr, they have certain- En- 

 gines ready, wherewithal to draw him up. Ne^vef thelefs, of five, three efcap'd 

 notwithstanding the cords and chains about their bodies and their legs. The 

 people told us one thing which feem'd very wonderful ; which was, that thefe 

 Elephants having been once deceiv'd.and having efcap'd the fhare,are very miftruft- 

 ful ever after ; and When they get into the Wood again, they break off a great 

 bough from one of the Trees with their trunk, with which they examine every 

 ftep they go, before they fet down their feet, to try whether there be any hole or 

 no in their way. So that the Hunters that told us the Story, feem'd to be out of 

 hopes of ever taking thofe three Elephants which had efcap'd. Had we been 

 aflur'd that we might have been eye-witneffes of this miraculous precaution of' 

 the Elephant, we would have ftaid three or four days, what-ever argent* bufinefs 

 we had had. The Captain himfelf was a kind of a Brigtuteer, that commanded 

 three or four-thoufand men, who were quarter'd Haifa league round the 

 Countrey. 



The feven and twentieth, after two hours travel, we came to a great Village, 

 where we faw the two Elephants which had been fo lately taken. Every one of 

 the two wild Elephants was plac'd between two. tame ones. Round about the 

 wild Elephants ftood fix men, with every one. an Half-pike in their hands, and a 

 Hghted-Torch faften'd at the end of the Pike, who talk'd to the Beafts, giving 

 them meat, and crying out in their language, Take tt, eat *>. The food which they 

 gave them was a little bottle of Hey, fbme pieces of brown-Sucre, and Rice boil'd 

 in water, with fome few corns of Pepper. If the wild Elephants refus'd to do as 

 they were bidden, the men made figns to the tame Elephants to beat them, which 

 they did, banging the refractory Elephant upon the head and forehead with their 

 trunks j and if he offer'd to make any refiftance, the other Elephant thwackt hinr 

 on the other fide ; fo that the poor Elephant, not knowing what to do, was con- 

 ftrain'd to learn obedience. 



Being thus fall'n into the Story of Elephants, I will add fome other observa- 

 tions, which I have made upon the nature of thofe Animals. Though the Ele- 

 phant never meddles with the female, after he is once taken, yet he is fometimes 

 feiz'd with a kind of luftful rage. One day that Sha-jehan was ah Hunting upon 

 one of his Elephants, with one of his Sons that fate by him to fan him, the Ele- 

 phant became fo furious by reafon of his luft, that the Governor who was by no' 

 means able to mafter him, declared to the King, that to allay the fury of the Ele- 

 phant, who would elfe doubtlefs bruife him to pieces among the Trees, there was 

 no way, but for one of the three to forfeit his life : and that he would willingly 

 facrificc his for the fafety of the King and the Prince his Son, Only he defir'd 

 his Majefty to take care of three fmall Children which he ifluft leave behind him. 

 Having fo faid, he threw himfelf under the Elephant's- feet, who had no fooner 

 taken him in his trunk and fqueez'd him to jijeces with his feet, but he grew as' 

 quiet and peaceable as before. The King, as an acknowledgment for fo famous a ; 

 deliverance, gave to the poor two-hundcr'd-thoufandRoupies, and highly advane'd 



