110 
elephant. 
of the males, a very different method is employed 
from that which is taken to secure a herd : the for- 
mer is taken by koomkees , or female elephants trained 
for the purpose ; whereas the latter is driven into a 
strong enclosure called a keddah. 
“ As the hunters know the places where the ele- 
phants come out to feed, they advance towards 
them in the evening with four koomkees , which is 
the number of which each hunting party consists : 
when the nights are dark, (and these are the most 
favourable for their purpose,) the male elephants are 
discovered by the noise they make in cleaning their 
food, by whisking and striking it against their fore 
legs, and by moon-light they can see them at some 
distance. 
“ As soon as they have determined on the 
goondah they mean to secure, three of the koomkees 
are conducted silently and slowly by their drivers, 
at a moderate distance from each other, near to the 
place where they are feeding : the koomkees advance 
very cautiously, feeding as they go along, and ap- 
pear like wild elephants that had strayed from the 
jungle. When the male perceives them approach- 
ing, if he takes the alarm, and is viciously inclined, 
he beats the ground with his trunk and makes a 
noise, showing evident marks of his displeasure, 
and that he will not allow them to approach nearer; 
and if they persist, he will immediately attack 
them with his tusks : for which reason they take 
care to retreat in good time. But should he be 
amorously disposed, which is generally the case. 
