THE ELEPHANT OF INDIA. 
117 
at that period had, of course, some method of 
capturing them by stratagem ; Aristotle, when 
describing the hunting of Elephants, (that is, for 
capture, not destruction,) mentions that tame ones 
were used, which attacked the wild animals, and 
these, when wearied or exhausted, were mounted 
by the keeper or master, and governed into 
obedience by a spear, — a method which would 
require no little share of courage and coolness. 
In Africa, where great slaughter of these animals 
has always been effected, the natives are said to 
ascend a tree, and to spring on the backs of the 
passing Elephants, slide down by the tail, and, 
during their short suspension, hamstring the 
animal.* 
Let us now see for what purposes this valuable 
animal is used, after so much risk and labour are 
expended on its capture and subjection. In the 
ancient times of the empires of India, Elephants 
were the indispensable attendants upon a court 
and upon nobility, and were esteemed the principal 
among all the immense number of animals which 
formed part of the royal retinue. In the ninth 
century, the Emperor Jehengir is said to have 
possessed twelve thousand of these animals, while, 
among the nobles of his empire, forty thousand 
* See a very curious old work, Elephantographia 
t'uriosa, 1715. 
