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. 



