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JOURNAL, R. A. S. (CEYLON). [Vol. VIII. 



tree, and makes it fast by passing the knot through the 

 loop. This is done with marvellous dexterity, and the 

 elephant is brought up short with a tremendous jerk, which 

 either snaps the rope, or sends him on to his head ; the 

 assistants then come up, and in a very short time the 

 elephant is made fast with a rope round each leg, and another 

 round his neck. 



If the first rope breaks, another is handed to the Panikkan, 

 and he pursues the elephant until it is noosed, or escapes into 

 thick jungle where it is impossible for the Panikkans to 

 keep up with it. 



Sometimes an elephant is savage, and charges instead of 

 taking to flight with the rest of the herd. In this case it is 

 not unusual for one man to stop and take off its attention 

 from the rest, by inducing it to charge him, while he dodges 

 behind trees, and in this way leads it away, while the other 

 trappers pursue the herd. When it is at a safe distance he 

 easily gives it the slip, and joins his companions. 



The Panikkans are a very fine set of men, physically tall, 

 well built, and muscular, but they are very ignorant and 

 inconceivably superstitious. The forests are, to them, 

 peopled with demons of every kind ; every animal, tree, or 

 rock has its attendant devil, who is dangerous if provoked. 

 This belief is turned to profitable account by certain indivi- 

 duals called "Annavis," who are magicians, and who 

 undertake for a consideration to propitiate the demons who 

 are in charge of elephants. 



Every party that starts for the jungle is accompanied by 

 one of these imposters, and in spite of the repeated failure 

 of his predictions, their faith in him remains unshaken. 

 The Annavis are of course fertile in excuses, and there is 

 generally a saving clause attached to each of their 

 predictions. 



Before starting for the jungle, the Annavi collects from 

 the members of his party a cocoanut, a quart of raw rice, 

 a large kudddn or cake of jaggery, half a quart of rice 

 flour, and a white cock. These things are heaped together, 

 the Annavi says prayers over them, and they are then packed 

 up for subsequent use when an elephant shall have been 

 caught. Besides these things others are required to 



