Chap. VI.] 



THE ELEPHANT. 



183 



wounded^ was helped out of the corral, and his son, 

 Kanghanie, 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 



n 4 



