44 THE ELEPHANT. 



exertions of five hundred people to effect the successful cap- 

 ture of a herd. 



As the elephant is naturally of a social disposition, they 

 congregate in troops of from forty to one hundred, under the 

 guidance of one of the oldest and largest of the females and 

 one of the largest males. 



When a herd is discovered, the hunters disperse themselves 

 so as to form an irregular circle, in which the elephants are 

 inclosed. They then light fires and form tracts of communi- 

 cation with each other, so as to be able to concentrate them- 

 selves at any part of the circle which may be threatened with 

 an attack from the inclosed herd. 



" The first circle being thus formed, the remaining part of 

 the day and night is spent in keeping watch by turns, or in 

 cooking for themselves and companions. Early next morning 

 one man is detached from each station, to form another circle 

 in that direction where they wish the elephants to advance. 

 When it is finished, the people stationed nearest to the first 

 circle put out their fires, and file off to the right and left to 

 form the advanced party, thus leaving an opening for the herd 

 to advance through ; and by this movement both the old and 

 new circle are joined and form an oblong. The people from 

 behind now begin shouting and making a noise with their 

 rattles, tomtoms, &c. to cause the elephants to advance ; and 

 as soon as they are got within the new circle the people close 

 up, take their proper stations, and pass the remaining part of 

 the day and night as before. In the morning the same pro- 

 cess is repeated, and in this manner the herd advances slowly 

 in that direction where they find themselves least incom- 

 moded by the noise and clamour of the hunters, feeding, as 

 they go along, upon branches of trees, leaves of bamboos, &c. 

 which come in their way. If they suspected any snare, they 

 could easily break through the circle ; but this inoffensive ani- 

 mal going merely in quest of food, and not seeing any of the 

 people who surround him, and who are concealed by the thick 

 jungle, advances without suspicion, and appears only to avoid 

 being pestered by their noise or din." 



This process is repeated until the elephants are gradually 

 brought to the keddah, or place where they are to be secured. 

 This Mr. Corse describes as being composed of three distinct 

 inclosures, communicating with each other by means of nar- 

 row openings or gateways, the last or furthermost into which 

 the elephants are driven being the smallest. 



"When the herd is brought near to the first inclosure, or 

 Baigcote, which has two gateways towards the jungle, from 

 which the elephants are to advance, (these as well as the other 



