m 
E&EFHANT. 
proceed to tie his legs with a stronger rope ; 
which is passed alternately, by means of a forked 
stick, and a kind of hook, from one leg to the 
other, in the form of a figure of eight. Six or 
eight of these ropes are generally employed, erne 
above another ; and they are fastened at their in- 
tersections by another rope, that is made to pass 
perpendicular up and down A strong cable, 
■with a running noose, sixty cubits long, is next 
put round each hind leg, above the other ropes ; 
and afterwards six or eight other ropes are crossed 
from leg to leg above the cable. The fixing 
these ropes usually occupies about twenty minutes, 
during which time the utmost silence is observed. 
When thus properly secured, the animal is left 
to himself, the koomkees retiring to a little dis- 
tance. In attempting to follow them, he finds his 
legs tied ; and becoming sensible of the danger of 
his situation, immediately retreats towards the 
jungle. The drivers, mounted on the tame ele- 
phants, accompanied by a number of people, who 
till this time have been kept out of sight, follow 
him at a little distance ; and as soon as he passes 
near a tree sufficiently stout to hold him, they take 
a few turns with the long cables which trailed be- 
hind him, round his trunk. His progress being 
thus stopped, he becomes furious, and exerts his 
utmost efforts to disengage himself. The koom- 
kees dare not now come near him ; and in his fury 
he falls down on the earth, and fears it up with 
bis tusks. In these exertions he sometimes breaks 
the cables, and escapes into the thick jungle. 
Hither the drivers cannot advance, for fear of the 
other wild elephants ,* and are therefore obliged to 
leave him to his fate. But as the cables are 
strong, and very seldom give way, when he has 
exhausted himself by his exertions, the koomkees 
are again brought near, and take their former posi« 
