126 
ELEPHANT. 
porting him on her knee, and with her head push- 
ing him forward with all her strength. The hunters 
likewise assist, by goading him, and urging him on 
by their noise and din. Sometimes they are even 
obliged to put lighted torches near, in order to 
make him advance. As soon as each elephant is 
secured, he is left in charge to the mahote , or 
keeper, who is appointed to attend and instruct him ; 
and under him there are from two to five coolies , 
according to the size of the elephant, in order to 
assist, and to supply food and water, till he be- 
comes so tractable as to bring the former himself. 
These people erect a small hut immediately before 
him, where the keeper, or one of the coolies , con- 
stantly attends him, supplies him with food, and 
sooths and caresses him by a variety of little arts. 
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 split at one 
end into many pieces, and driving away the flies 
from any sores occasioned by the hurts and bruises 
he got by his efforts to escape from the roomee. 
This animal’s skin is soft, considering his great 
size; and, being extremely sensible, is easily cut 
or pierced, more so than the skin of most large 
quadrupeds. The mahote likewise keeps him cool 
by squirting water all over him, and standing with- 
out the reach of his trunk. In a few days he ad- 
vances cautiously to his side, and strokes and pats 
him with his hand, speaking to him all the while 
