MANTRA GAJAH. 29 



56. To cure an elephant of the trick of shaking itself free 

 from its load, this is the medicine: we take the roots of the 

 galenggang plant, the roots of the trong asam and the roots 

 of the sensitive plant* ; we chew them with betel leaf and betel 

 nut and spit part of the mixture over the forehead of the 

 elephant and then spit part over its testicles, and after this 

 spit part over both cheeks and both thighs. We do this for 

 two or three days. 



Another cure is the following : we take the roots of the 

 sensitive plant and some moss from a stone that has been 

 standing in water, and burn them to ashes, which we then mix 

 with oil, and rub over the elephant's cheeks and thighs. 



Yet another way is to take the root of the large species of 

 galenggang plant, and chew it with betel leaf and betel nut, 

 and then spit over the elephant's cheeks and thighs for three 

 consecutive days. The plant must be gathered at evening time. 



57. This is a medicine to prevent an elephant from 

 swinging its tail from side to side. We take the rubbish that 

 collects about sticks in the water and about the posts which 

 stand in the stream and shake to and fro with the force of the 

 current. We burn this to ashes and mix the ashes with oil 

 which we rub on the elephant's tail for three consecutive 

 evenings. 



58. To make an elephant subservient to the goad we 

 take a handful of kait kait leaves and rub them over the 

 elephant for three consecutive mornings or evenings ; or 

 else when we bathe the elephant. This is another way; if 

 we put gold and silver in a bowl of water, and then bathe 

 the elephant's head with the water, the elephant will without 

 fail obey the goad with alacrity. 



And this is yet another way ; we take gold, silver, copper 

 and the iron of which cannons are made, and place them in a 

 bowl of water. With this water we then bathe the elephant's 

 head, and at the same time we lay the goad upon its head. We 

 do this for three consecutive days. 



* Mimosa jpudica 

 B. A. Soc.^No. 45, 1905. 



