NO. 49. — 1898.] THE CEYLON ELEPHANT. 191 



tuskers, alias, and cows, who after a length of time have 

 become quite tame and have been properly taught how to 

 treat their comrades between them and induce them to do 

 their duty, for which reason these hunting elephants have 

 from a long time been called zielverkoopers 22 (soul sellers) 

 by the Company's servants ; but if tuskers are used for this 

 purpose, the tusks are sawn off close to the snout and kept 

 sawn yearly, in order to prevent them from digging into the 

 wild beasts and injuring them. 



The means or instruments which the cornax 23 or riders 

 use to guide and regulate the aforesaid beasts consists only of 

 two iron hooks, provided with points, and long sticks or 

 wooden handles, of which the elephant is much afraid, not 

 being able to endure the pricking or the tickling and 

 thumping under the jaw bones, so that they in such cases 

 utter a loud cry. 



The servient people and servants of the Hon. Com- 

 pany used in the elephant hunt are of various castes, viz., 

 Lascoryns, Baddanas, Welkareas, Wagekareas, and villagers; 

 but of these, only the three first-named get maintenance or 

 support on paddy or rice, and the villagers on the contrary 

 get no compensation or reward and are bound to help in 

 the hunt, the elephant hunt costing only in paddy or rice 

 for the support of the labourers, generally amounting to 

 300 parras or 4 lasts. Therefore, the Hon. Company need 

 only incur very little expense, except providing a quantity 

 of cayer rope to tie the elephants with, which is not of 

 much account. 



For further understanding the subject, it is necessary to 

 state here what kinds of servants and people are employed 

 in catching and stalling the elephants, and to add a short 

 account of their duties according to the services which they 

 are bound to perform from their birth, viz. : — 



Etbandene Vidane is called the master of the hunt. 



Gaysenaike, first chief of the elephant stalls, with his 

 dependants. 



Wederale, physician of the elephant. 



H 2 



