534 
JOURNAL OF AN EMBASSY 
two classes : those which are thoroughly broken 
in and tamed, consisting principally of males ; 
and those that are employed as decoys, all fe¬ 
males, and in a half wild state. They are under 
two chiefs: that of the first called the Senwun, 
or Elephant Governor ; and that of the second, 
the Aok-ma, or Aong-ma-wun; words which 
signify “■ governor of female decoys.” The 
latter are exclusively used as decoys; and, for 
this purpose, generally kept in the neighbour¬ 
hood of forests frequented by elephants. Here 
they are frequently joined by wild females, as 
well as by males. When the latter is the case, the 
particular herd that has been joined by the male, 
is driven into town; and the last caught, in the 
manner which we saw yesterday, for the King’s 
amusement. I believe that elephants in general 
are not caught in this country in the large way 
practised in India, Ceylon, and other countries; 
the mode of taking them by decoys, and breed¬ 
ings , being quite sufficient to keep up the stock. 
With respect to breeding in the domestic state, 
or at least in the half domestic state, in which 
the female elephants are generally kept, I have 
made frequent inquiries into it; and it is, in 
fact, such an every-day occurrence, that there 
can be no doubt respecting the truth of it. 
I have seen no herd of elephants without three, 
