MANTRA GAJAH. 11 



A LITERAL TRANSLATION OF THE MANTRA GAJAH, 



(Note. In the mantras Malay words are printed in Italics, 

 Non-Malay words in Capitals). 



This is written to set forth the mantras used in connexion 

 with elephants. If we intend to build an enclosure in which to 

 catch -elephants, or if we wish to look for a suitable site for such 

 an enclosure, or to select the best place for the gate of the en- 

 closure, or if we desire to snare an elephant either when confin- 

 ed in the enclosure or at large in the great forest, in all these 

 cases it is necesssary that we should know the teaching of learned 

 men and the auguries and signs, and then perchance God 

 Almighty may grant a safe and prosperous issue to our under- 

 taking. 



1. If, when we inspect the proposed site for an elephant en- 

 closure T we find many ant-hills in it or much earth that has 

 been undermined by ants, that place is not a suitable one and 

 much sickness will result if it is used. If there are two trees 

 growing there so close together as to resemble stocks, or if two 

 trees grow there interlocked, or if dead stump is there, the place 

 is not a good one. It is not a good place if in it there are roots 

 or jungle creepers twisted into inextricable knots, whether it 

 be on the ground or above it. And it is a bad place if there is 

 in it a hard wood tree of which part is dead and part alive. 



2. This deals with the selection of the site for the gate of 

 the enclosure. If there are jungle creepers growing one on top 

 of the other the place is not good, nor is it good if a white ants' 

 hill or any large ant-hill is found in front of the gate or within 

 the enclosure. It is not good if there is low r lying flat ground 

 in front of the gate or within the enclosure. If in front of the 

 gate two branches of trees have joined and grown together 

 or if the gate is overhung by interwoven creepers, the place 

 is not good one for the purpose. 



3. This deals with the lore in connexion with cutting the 

 wood for the post of the gate to the enclosure. When the first 

 chip falls from the axe to the ground we look carefully to see 

 whether the bark his uppermost or not. If it fall with the bark 



R, A. Sop., No, 45, 1905, 



