244 An Account of the 



Iiooir.ee. This animal's fkin is foft confidering his great fize, and is extreme- 

 ly fenfible, is eafily cut or pierced, more fo than the fkin of moil: large qua- 

 drupeds. The Mabote likewife keeps him cool, by f quirting water all over 

 him, and (landing without the reach of his trunk;, in a few days he advan- 

 ces cautioufly to his fide, and ftrokes and pats him with his hand., {peaking 

 to him all the while in a foothing tone of voice, and in a little- time he be- 

 gins to know his keeper and obey his commands-.. By degrees the Mahoie- 

 becomes familiar to him, and at length gets upon his back from one: of the- 

 tame elephants, and, as the animal becomes more tractable, he advances gra- 

 dually forward towards his head, till at daft he is permitted to feat himfelf 

 on his neck, from which place he afterwards regulates and directs all his mo- 

 tions. While they are training in this manner, the tame elephants lead out 

 the others in turn for the fake of exercife, and likewife to eafe their legs 

 from the cords with which they are tied, and which are apt to gall them- 

 moit terribly, unlefs they are regularly flacked and fhifted. In five or fix 

 weeks the elephant becomes obedient to his keeper, his fetters are taken off 

 by degrees, and generally in about five or fix months he fuffers himfelf to be 

 conducted by the Mahote from one place to another: care however is always 

 taken not to let him approach his former haunts, left a recollection of the 

 freedom he there enjoyed, mould induce him again to recover his liberty. 

 This obedience to his conductor feems to proceed partly from a fenfe of ge- 

 nerofity, as it is in Tome meafure voluntary ; foE, whenever an elephant takes 

 fright or is determined to run away, all the exertions of the Mahoft cannot 

 prevent him, even by beating or digging the pointed iron hook into his 

 head, with which he directs him : on fuch an occafion the animal totally 

 difregards thefe feeble efforts, otherwife he could (hake or pull him off with 

 his trunk and dafh him in pieces. Accidents of this kind happen almoft 

 every year, efpecially to thofe Mahotes, who attend the large Goondahs, but 



