Chap. VI.] 



THE ELEPHANT. 



181 



three were very large, and two were little creatures 

 but a few months old. One of the large ones was a 

 * rogue/' and being unassociated with the rest of the 

 herd, he was not admitted to their circle, although 

 permitted to stand near them. 



Meanwhile, preparations were making outside to con- 

 duct the tame elephants into the corral, in order to 

 secure the captives. Noosed ropes were in readiness ; 

 and far apart from all stood a party of the out-caste 

 Eodiyas, the only tribe who will touch a dead carcase, 

 to whom, therefore, the duty is assigned of preparing 

 the fine flexible rope for noosing, which is made from 

 the fresh hides of the deer and the buffalo. 



At length, the bars which secured the entrance to 

 the corral were cautiously withdrawn, and two trained 

 elephants passed stealthily in, each ridden by its mahout 

 (or ponnekella, as the keeper is termed in Ceylon), and 

 one attendant; and, carrying a strong collar, formed 

 by coils of rope made from coco-nut fibre, from which 

 hung on either side cords of elk's hide, prepared with a 

 ready noose. Along with these, and concealed behind 

 them, the headman of the " cooroowe" or noosers, 

 crept in, eager to secure the honour of taking the first 

 elephant, a distinction which this class jealously contests 

 with the mahouts of the chiefs and temples. He was a 

 wiry little man, nearly seventy years old, who had 

 served in the same capacity under the Kandyan king, 

 and wore two silver bangles, which had been conferred 

 on him in testimony of his prowess. He was accom- 

 panied by his son, named Eanghanie, equally renowned 

 for his courage and dexterity. 



On this occasion ten tame elephants were in attend- 

 ance; two were the property of an adjoining temple 



x 3 



