138 ELEPHANT. 
to break down the bars in front of him, running 
against them, screaming and roaring most violently s 
and battering them., like a ram, by repeated blows 
with his head, retreating and advancing with the 
utmost fury. In his rage he even rises up, and 
leaps upon the bars with his fore feet, striving to 
break them down with his huge weight . When 
he becomes somewhat fatigued with these exertions, 
ropes are, by degrees, put round him ; and he is 
secured in a manner nearly similar to that adopted 
in taking the single males. And thus, in succes- 
sion, they are all secured. 
The elephants are now separated, and each put 
under the care of a keeper, who is appointed to at- 
tend and instruct him. Under this man, there are 
three or four others, who assist in supplying food 
and water, till the animal becomes sufficiently tract- 
able to feed liimself. A variety of soothing and 
caressing arts are practised : sometimes the keeper 
threatens, and even goads him with a long stick 
pointed with iron ; but more generally coaxes and 
flatters him, scratching his head and trunk with a 
long bamboo sp'lit at one end into many pieces, 
and driving away the flies from his sores and 
bruises. In order to keep him cool, he likewise 
squirts water all over him ; carefully standing out 
of the reach' of his trunk. 
In a few days he advances cautiously to his side, 
and strokes and pats him with his hand, at the 
same time speaking to him in a soothing voice ; 
and after a little while, the beast begins to know 
his keeper afld obey his commands. By degrees 
the latter becomes familiar, and at length mounts 
upon bis back from one of the tame elephants ; from 
hence he gradually increases the intimacy as the 
animal becomes more tame, till at last he is per- 
mitted to seat himself on his neek, from which 
place he is afterwards to regulate and direct all 
