34
P L A T E IX.
KOOMKIES, OR DECOY ELEPHANTS, CATCHING A MALE.
w E may in vain search the annals of art, and examine the records ofantiquity,
for such an extraordinai-y fact as forms the subject of this Number . That many
birds arc made instrumenlal towards enslaving their own species we all know;
but even if we should hesitate in admitting, tlial the chiruppiiig of a linnet in
its cage were rather tiic efTcclof agitation, and of that sensibility which the sight
of its fellow creatures ranging at full liberty must create ; or, if we should deny
thai decoy ducks act rather from habit than from design; and though we
should aflix to the conduct of each, an absolute connivance in the ensnaring of
their own race, and adniirc the regularity with wliich they act on such occasions
; yet we do not (iiid sullicient to interest us deeply, nor any circumstance
evincing either that they are themselves sensible of the stratagem, or that they
are attached and strongly allectionale to their employers.
Not so the hoomhie : she becomes an active accessary in the plot against her
fellow creature ; discovering not only great readiness, but much ingenuity and
anxiety for ihe success of the enterprize, as well as for the personal safety of
her keeper! Possibly we might be the less surprised at this, were koomkies
trained from their earliest years to the device, which is by no means the case.
They arc generally selected, perhaps from herds comparatively fresh from the
kc(/(/a/i (or trap), on account of their size, their docility, and their attachment
lo their mohonis, or drivers. In fad, however tractable and aiTectionate a
female elephant may be, she will be of no value as a koom/cie unless of a good
stature; wilhont which she could neither efTectually conceal her driver from
the sight of the male to he taken, nor, in the event of his being discovered,
allbrd him the least protection.
It may be observed, that domesticated animals at the season of procreation
generally are in a slate of warfare; one male of superior prowess exiling, or at
least controling, such males as may not have either spirit or strength to dispute
the point. With wild animals this is, if any thing, carried to a greater extreme.
Such as do not possess any exterior weapons of oflence, nature has designed
should couj)le, as we fnui to be the case with hares, rabbits, rats, wolves, bears.
and many others ; while those to which she has assigned horns, prol ruding teeth,
&c. ever assemble in lierds; as elephants, deer, buHaloes, &c. over which one
male ordinarily obtains sway. With regard to antelopes, nothing is more
common than to see the conquered males wandering about in solitude, at a
distance from their kindred herds, which they dare not approach. If two, or
more of these should meet, as often happens, a fierce contest ensues ; like n\any
human litigations, terminating in mutual injuiy, without any object to reward
the victor. With buffaloes it is in some measure the same ; the evil is with
them diminished by the propensity of lierds, at this season, lo divide into
small parties, with each of which a male retires.
I t is not easy to ascertain precisely how ihe matter stands with elephants;
but, from all that can be collected on the subject, we may conclude that the
case is much the same with them aswilb deer. Dreadful conflicts between the
large males of a flock of elephants have been seen, terminating in the expulsion
of the weaker parties, wliicli range the country in the most violent agitation.
Full of lust and resentment, they destroy every living object within their power,
and in the most wanton manner pull up sugar canes, plantain trees; &c.
rending the air with their disconsolate trumpetting : others are more sulky,
and seek the heavier covers ; where, no doubt, time allays their passions, and
by degrees they rejoin their own, or some other herd.
These single males, which are called sams, very soon distinguish themselves,
and attract the notice of the enterprising dealer ; who fails not to dispatch two
or more koomkies for the purpose of securing such snbslanlial prizes. It is to
be understood, that the s«««.« are generally very valuable; being of the first
class, and inferior only to the master oU-jjbant of llie herd ; whose antipathy
appears to be engendered solely against such among the males as, from their
near equality with his own stature, become objecls of jealousy. At least such
we must take for granted ; since we find many males of inferior size among
herds laken, at a time when such as are above described, have been obliged, by
one superior in vigour, to abandon them. As it was before observed, in a