[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 263.3 # Storia do Mogor 263.3 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 263.3 - **Language:** English ### [263.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.263.3) The Siamese assert that in old days, in the great forests of that kingdom, there appeared a multitude of elephants. Among them there was one of great stature which was quite white in the body, but had orange-coloured tusks and nails. When the king was informed of this, he used all possible exertions for its capture. But all was in vain ; and because he could not be caught, the Siamese called him the ' King of Elephants.' For this reason the King of Siam takes the title of ' Lord of the White Elephant.' Because some other princes dared to assume this title — that is, the Kings of Pegu and Arakan — the King of Siam has fought some cruel wars against them. \[149 resumed.\] Since I have spoken of these huge animals, it gives me the opening to speak also of small ones. In the Mogul country is a kind of animal, very finely formed, of about the size of a goat, cinnamon in colour. They are wild, and when over twelve years old the lower half of the body becomes white, and from the horns to the tail the upper half of the body is black. The horns are three palms in length, and twisted like a rope, the points being very sharp. They run with such velocity that no horse can overtake them. The changes of colour referred to occur in the male ; the female remains all her life the same colour. They are called in India haran \[i.e., ' deer '\]. Usually these animals pass their nights in the woods, and during the day come to graze in the fields. Each male is followed by fifteen to twenty females. When the young male grows up and begins to disquiet the females, the father ejects him from the herd by using his horns ; and the young male lives solitary, as none of the other haran \[deer\] will allow him to approach. His life is thus passed until he finds himself in full force and vigour. Then he goes in search of the gazelles ; the master of the herd comes out to meet him, and they fight vigorously, the one in defence of his females, the other to acquire them. During the fight, which usually lasts more than an hour, the females draw up in a fright, and do not stir from the spot, looking on at the struggle until it is finished. The victor pursues his opponent till he gets near some similar herd, and there he leaves him, and goes back to find the females. These gather round him, and indulge in springs and jumps to betoken their delight. The same is done by them to the stranger if he wins. In the Mogul country all the great lords keep these animals in domestication; they are used for fighting, and also to hunt others of the same sort. When used for this purpose, they fix ropes on their horns, and let them loose where there are a considerable number of the wild herds. The male of the herd advances in a rage to repel the intruder, and they begin to fight. In this fight the wild deer gets entangled by the rope, and the hunters capture him and tame him, so that he may serve in the same way to catch others. The females are also used to capture others. When the hunter finds that he cannot reach such animals with his matchlock, he hides himself, and lets loose one of these females in the plain with a slender string attached to its neck. This is done in sight of other deer, who come at once in search of her. At this time the hunter pulls the cord, and the male follows the captured female at the will of the hunter, who then kills with an easy shot. The hunters are so dexterous in this process that when the king goes to the chase they draw the animals under this coercion to the very muzzle of the matchlock. To this intent they raise a shelter of green branches in which are some little holes. This is planted into the ground at the most convenient place. In this way the great men amuse themselves with shooting without undergoing much labour, as I have myself experienced many times. - [Previous: 263.2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.263.2.7) - [Next: 264.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.264.1) - [Up: 263](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.263) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.263.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.263.3) · Pramāṇa