The wild elephant and the method of capturing and taming it in Ceylon . sker and another were ordered up to assist, andit required the combined efforts of the three elephantsto force him along. When dragged to the place at whichhe was to be tied up, he continued the contest withdesperation, and to prevent the second noose beingplaced on his foot, he sat down on his haunches, almostin the attitude of the Florentine Boar, keeping hishind-feet beneath him, and defending his fore-feet withhis trunk, with which he flung back the rope as often asit was attempted to attach it. This is precisely the a
The wild elephant and the method of capturing and taming it in Ceylon . sker and another were ordered up to assist, andit required the combined efforts of the three elephantsto force him along. When dragged to the place at whichhe was to be tied up, he continued the contest withdesperation, and to prevent the second noose beingplaced on his foot, he sat down on his haunches, almostin the attitude of the Florentine Boar, keeping hishind-feet beneath him, and defending his fore-feet withhis trunk, with which he flung back the rope as often asit was attempted to attach it. This is precisely the action ascribed levelling palm trees. Dc Anitn. Aristotle to the elephant, when 1. ix. c. 2. Slackening the Ropes. 147 When overpowered and made fast, his grief was mostaffecting; his violence sunk to utter prostration, and helay on the ground, uttering choking cries, with tearstrickling down his cheeks. The last operation of the corral was that of slackeningthe ropes, and marching each captive elephant down tothe river between two tame ones. This was effected. very simply. A decoy, with a strong collar round itsneck, stood on either side of the wild one, on which asimilar collar was formed by successive coils of coco-nutrope ; and then, connecting the three collars together,the prisoner was effectually made safe between his twoguards. During this operation, it was curious to see howthe tame elephant, from time to time, used its trunk to 148 The Wild Elephant. shield the arm of its rider, and ward off the trunk ofthe prisoner, who resisted the placing the rope round hisneck. This done, the nooses were removed from hisfeet, and he was marched off to the river, in which heand his companions were allowed to bathe; a privilegeof which all availed themselves eagerly. Each was thenmade fast to a tree in the forest, and keepers beingassigned to him, with a retinue of leaf-cutters, he wasplentifully supplied with his favourite food, and left tothe care and tuition of his new mas
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, bookidwild, booksubjectelephants
