182 
MAMMALIA. 
[Chap. VI. 
(one of which had been caught but the year before, 
yet it was now ready to assist in capturing others), four 
belonged to the neighbouring chiefs, and the rest, in- 
cluding the two which first entered the corral, were part 
of the Government stud. Of the latter, one was of 
prodigious age, having been in the service of the Dutch 
and English Governments in succession for upwards of 
a century. 1 The other, called by her keeper " Siri- 
beddi," was about fifty years old, and distinguished for 
gentleness and docility. She was a most accomplished 
decoy, and evinced the utmost relish for the sport. 
Having entered the corral noiselessly, carrying a mahout 
on her shoulders with the headman of the noosers seated 
behind him, she moved slowly along with a sly composure 
and an assumed air of easy indifference; sauntering 
leisurely in the direction of the captives, and halting 
now and then to pluck a bunch of grass or a few leaves 
as she passed. As she approached the herd, they put 
themselves in motion to meet her, and the leader, hav- 
ing advanced in front and passed his trunk gently over 
her head, turned and paced slowly back to his dejected 
companions. Siribeddi followed with the same listless 
step, and drew herself up close behind him, thus afford- 
ing the nooser an opportunity to stoop under her and 
slip the noose over the hind foot of the wild one. The 
latter instantly perceived his danger, shook off the rope, 
and turned to attack the man. He would have suffered 
for his temerity had not Siribeddi protected him by 
raising her trunk and driving the assailant into the 
midst of the herd, when the old man, being slightly 
1 This elephant is since dead ; skeleton is now in the Museum of 
she grew infirm and diseased, and the Natural History, Society at 
died at Colombo in 1848. Her Belfast, 
