Chap. V.] 
THE ELEPHANT. 
163 
may be as nearly as possible on a line with the level of 
the wharf. The elephant being placed with his back to 
the water is forced by goads to retreat till his hind legs 
go over the side of the quay, but the main contest com- 
mences when it is attempted to disengage his fore feet 
from the shore, and force him to entrust himself on 
board. The scene becomes exciting from the screams 
and trumpeting of the elephants, the shouts of the Arabs, 
the calls of the Moors, and the rushing of the crowd. 
Meanwhile the huge creature strains every nerve to 
regain the land ; and the day is often consumed before 
his efforts are overcome, and he finds himself fairly 
afloat. The same dhoney will take from four to five 
elephants, who place themselves athwart it, and exhibit 
amusing adroitness in accommodating their movements 
to the rolling of the little vessel ; and in this way 
they are ferried across the narrow strait which separates 
the continent of India from Ceylon. 1 
But the feat of ensnaring and subduing a single 
elephant, courageous as it is, and demonstrative of the 
supremacy with which man wields his " dominion over 
every beast of the earth," falls far short of the daring 
1 In the Philosophical Transac- land, and he swam after the boat 
tions for 1701, there is "An to the ship, where tackle was reeved 
Account of the taking of Elephants to the sail-cloth, and he was hoisted 
in Ceylon, by Mr. Stkachan, a on board. 
Physician who lived seventeen years " But a better way has been in- 
there," in which the author de- vented lately," says Mr. Strachan ; 
scribes the manner in which they "a large fiat-bottomed vessel is 
were shipped by the Dutch, at prepared, covered with planks like 
Matura, Gralle, and Negombo. A a floor ; so that this floor is almost 
piece of strong sail-cloth having of a height with the key. Then 
been wrapped round the elephant's the sides of the key and the vessel 
chest and stomach, he was forced are adorned with green branches, 
into the sea between two tame so that the elephant sees no water 
ones, and there made fast to a boat, till heis in the ship." — Phil. Trans., 
The tame. ones then returned to vol. ssiii. No. 227, p. 1051. 
m 2 
