elephant could fqueeze itfelf into the opening. When the
governor gives orders for an elephant chace on the company’s
account, which happens at the expiration o f a certain number
o f years, it is performed in the following manner: A great
multitude of men, as well European as Cingalefe, are fent out
into the woods, in the fame manner in which people go out on
a general hunt for wolves and bears in the north o f Europe.
Thefe diffufe themfelves, and encompafs a certain extent of
land which has been difcovered to be frequented by elephants.
After this they gradually draw nearer, and with great noife,
vociferation, and beat of drum, contrail the area of the circle;
in the mean time the elephants approach nearer and nearer
to the fide on which the toil is placed. Finally, torches are-
lighted up, in order to terrify ftill more thefe huge animals, and
force them to enter into the toil prepared for them. As foon
as they all have entered, the toil is clofed up behind them.
The laft time that elephants were caught in this manner, their
numbers amounted to upwards o f a hundred, and on former
occafions has fometimes amounted to one hundred and thirtv.” 1
S! T he firftcareof the captors, is to bring them out of the toil,
and to tame them. For this purpofe one or two tame elephants
are placed at the fide where the opening is, through which
each elephant is let out fingly, when he is immediately bound
faft, with ftrong ropes, to the tame ones, who difcipline him
with their probofcis, till he likewife becomes tame, and fufiers
himfelf to be handled and managed at pleafure. This difcipli-
nary corre£tion frequently proceeds very briikly, and is fometimes
accompliihed in a few days, elpecially as the wild elephant
is at the fame time brought under control by hunger.”
T he
T he horfes o f the ifland are defcended from the Arabian H o r s e .
breed. Thefe are kept in a wild ftate, in certain iilands called
Ilbas de Cavallos. They are at certain times forced into the
ponds and rivers, and caught by people, who, in the moft dexterous
manner, fling over any part they pleafe a noofe. Thefe
are fent to a fair, immediately following the elephant fair, and
fold for large prices. The peafants make no fort o f ufe o f horfes;
but in their place employ the buffalo, which they catch and tame
for the cart, and all their rural work*.
T h e fpecies o f deer are very elegant; here are found the D e e r .
fpotted Axis, Hiji. $uad. N" 56, the middle fized, N° 57, and
the great, N 58, called by the Dutch, Elk, as tall as a horfe;
and the rib-faced, N 60, with a tulk from each upper jaw, pointing
downwards.
T h e little Indian mufk, called Meminna, not larger than a
hare, is a native of this ifle. This has, like the laft, its tuiks.
Buffaloes are very common here, wild and tame; and are Buffalo.
the only animals ufed here for rural «economy.
W i l d - B o a r s are very numerous, and very fierce. « To fight w i l d Boa
“ an enemy, to hunt the elephant, and catch the wild-hog, are °A*’ '
1 the three points o f valour among the Cingalefe
M o n k i e s fwarm here; the JVanderow is a fpecies mentioned M o n k e v .
by Knox, with a great white beard from ear to ear, a black face,
and dark grey body. There is a variety o f the above quite
white.
T he purple-faced, N° 107, has a triangular white beard, purple
face, and black body.
* Wol£ p. 170.
C c 1 The