160 MAMMALIA. [Chap. V. 



So fearless and confident are they that two men, 

 without aid or attendants, will boldly attempt to cap- 

 ture the largest-sized elephant. Their only weapon is a 

 flexible rope made of elk's or buffalo's hide, with which 

 it is their object to secure one of the hind legs. This 

 they effect either by following in its footsteps when in 

 motion or by stealing close up to it when at rest, and 

 availing themselves of its well-known propensity at 

 such moments to swing the feet backwards and forwards, 

 they contrive to slip a noose over the hind leg. 



At other times this is achieved by spreading the 

 noose on the ground partially concealed by roots and 

 leaves beneath a tree on which one of the party is sta- 

 tioned, whose business it is to lift it suddenly by means 

 of a cord, raising it on the elephant's leg at the moment 

 when his companion has succeeded in provoking him to 

 place his foot within the circle, the other end having 

 been previously made fast to the stem of the tree. 

 Should the noosing be effected in open ground, and no 

 tree of sufficient strength at hand round which to wind 

 the rope, one of the Moors, allowing himself to be pur- 

 sued by the enraged elephant, entices him towards the 

 nearest grove ; where his companion, dexterously laying 

 hold of the rope as it trails along the ground, suddenly 

 coils it round a suitable stem, and brings the fugitive to 

 a stand still. On finding himself thus arrested, the 

 natural impulse of the captive is to turn on the man 



each hand, and waving them above face. The effect was instantaneous ; 



his head till they flamed out fiercely, the whole herd dashed away in a 



he advanced at a deliberate pace to panic, bellowing, screaming, and 



within a few yards of the elephant crushing through the underwood, 



who was acting as leader of the whilst we availed ourselves of the 



party, and who was growling and open path to make our way to our 



trumpeting in his rage, and flour- tents." 

 ished the flaming torches in his 



