'Elephant-hunting. fQl 
is to secure them with ropes. The tame elephants are here of 
the most effectual service to the hunters, and greatly assist 
them in throwing ropes round the legs and neck of the wild 
animals. As soon as the wild elephant is made fast with ropes, 
he is led out by the straight path prepared for the purpose, 
and made fast to the strongest trees on the outside of the 
labyrinth. The hunters then renew the same process with the 
rest, till the elephants within the enclosure are successively 
secured. 
It frequently happens that the elephants when first caught 
are very unruly and violent ; in which case it is necessary to 
have recourse to the powers and sagacity of the tame ones. 
The latter, when they perceive their wild brother is unma- 
nageable, fall to jostling him, and belabouring him with their 
trunks, till they have rendered him perfectly calm and com- 
pliant. They are also very assiduous in watching all his mo- 
tions, and prevent him from making any sudden attack on 
their keepers. 
The tract of country near Matura is the place where the 
elephants are chiefly hunted. The commanding officer of that 
post has the superintendance and ordering of the hunts. 
In 1797, no less than one hundred and seventy-six elephants, 
taken in this manner, were sent over by Adam’s bridge from 
Cejdon to the continent. On their way I had an opportunity 
of seeing these immense animals at the Grand Pass beyond 
Columbo. One of them was exceedingly large and tall, and 
surpassed in size even the royal elephant in the possession of 
the Nabob of Arcot, which I saw near his palace of Che- 
pauk. These animals, though so lately taken in a wild state, 
p p 2 
