520 
JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
chief. We were told by the keepers, that the 
male elephants, when thus secured, refuse food 
for about five days. It takes six or seven 
months to tame them effectually, and occasion¬ 
ally as much as a whole year, for their dispo¬ 
sitions are very various. 
After the elephant was secured, we had an 
exhibition of boxing,—not less than five-and- 
twenty or thirty matches. In these gymnas¬ 
tics, the Burmans display a good deal of strength 
and agility ; but would make but a sorry figure, 
after all, even among the third or fourth class 
of our London prize-fighters. The boxers were 
stripped naked, with the exception of a piece 
of red cloth tied round their waist; and ad¬ 
vanced into the ring, using provoking language 
and gestures. They closed almost immediate¬ 
ly, and wrestled; using in the mean time their 
hands, feet, and knees with considerable adroit¬ 
ness. The fight consists of three rounds, un¬ 
less decided earlier by some obvious advantage 
on one side. An umpire sits in the ring, and 
decides who is to be considered the victor. The 
loss of a single drop of blood is the loss of the 
battle. To determine this point, we observed 
some curious and minute examinations set on 
foot; those who had got bloody mouths endea¬ 
vouring to conceal the mishap. Their detection 
