236 An , Ac coy n t . of the 



comparing the accounts given by different people employed in this bufinsfs, 

 the manner in which the male elephants, called Geondabs, are fecured, I 

 mall next entirely from my own knowledge defcnbe the methods I have fe^ii 

 employed for fecurmg a herd of wild elephants. Female elephants are 

 never taken fingl-y, but always in the herd, which confifts ofyouno- and old 

 of both fexes. This noble, docile, and ufeful animal,' feems naturally of a 

 focial difpoiition, as a herd in general confifU of from about 40 tc* iod», 

 and is conducted under the direction of one of the oldeft and largeft 

 females called the Palmai> and one of the largeft males . When a herd 

 is discovered, about 500 people are employed to furround it, who divide 

 themfelves into final! parties, called Cbokeys, confuting generally of one 

 Mahote and two Coolies, at the diftance of twenty or thirty yards from 

 each other, and form an irregular circle in which the elephants are enclofed : 

 each party lights a fire and clears a footpath to the flation that is next him 

 by which a regular communication is foon formed through the whole cir- 

 cumference from one to the other. By this path reinforcements can imme- 

 diately be brought to any place where an alarm is given; and it is alfo necef- 

 fery for the fuperintendants, who are .always going round, to fee that the peo- 

 ple are alert upon their polls. The 'firft circle (the Dawkee) being thus 

 formed, the remaining part of the day and night is fpent in keeping watch 

 by turns, or in cooking for themfelves and companions. Early next morn- 

 ing, one man is detached from each Ration to form another circle in that di- 

 rection, where they with the elephants to advance. When it is fmi/hed the 

 people, Rationed neareft to the new circle, put out their, fires and file off to 

 the right and left to form the advanced party, thus leaving an opening for 

 the herd to advance through, and by this movement both the old and new 

 circles are joined and form an oblong. The people from behind now begin 

 -ihouting and making a noife with their rattles^ tomtoms.? &c. to caufe. 



