Chap. VI.] 
THE ELEPHANT. 
183 
wounded, was helped out of the corral, and his son, 
Eanghanie, took his place. 
The herd again collected in a circle, with their heads 
towards the centre. The largest male was singled out, 
and two tame ones pushed boldly in, one on either side 
of him, till the three stood nearly abreast. He made 
no resistance, but betrayed his uneasiness by shifting 
restlessly from foot to foot. Eanghanie now crept up, 
and, holding the rope open with both hands (its other 
extremity being made fast to Siribeddi's collar), and 
watching the instant when the wild elephant lifted its 
hind-foot, succeeded in passing the noose over its leg, 
drew it close, and fled to the rear. The two tame 
elephants instantly fell back, Siribeddi stretched the 
rope to its full length, and, whilst she dragged out the 
captive, her companion placed himself between her and 
the herd to prevent any interference. 
In order to tie him to a tree he had to be drawn 
backwards some twenty or thirty yards, making furious 
resistance, bellowing in terror, plunging on all sides, and 
crushing the smaller timber, which bent like reeds be- 
neath his clumsy struggles. Siribeddi drew him steadily 
after her, and wound the rope round the proper tree, 
holding it all the time at its full tension, and stepping 
cautiously across it when, in order to give it a second 
turn, it was necessary to pass between the tree and 
the elephant. With a coil round the stem, however, it 
was beyond her strength to haul the prisoner close up, 
which was, nevertheless, necessary in order to make 
him perfectly fast ; but the second tame one, perceiving 
the difficulty, returned from the herd, confronted the 
struggling prisoner, pushed him shoulder to shoulder, 
and head to head, forcing him backwards, whilst at 
B 4 
