Method of Catching Wild El'phanh. 1$$ 



the bank of earth, that is thrown up from the excavation, a 

 row of ftrong palifades of middle-nzed trees is planted, 

 ftrengthencd with crofs hars, which are tied to them about 

 the distance of fourteen inches from each other; and 

 are fupported on the outride by ftrong pons like buttreflesj 

 having one end funk in the earth and the other preffing 

 againil the crofs bars to which they are fattened. When 

 the herd is brought near to the nrft enelofure, or Baigcote, 

 which has two gateways towards the jangle, from which the 

 elephants are to advance, (thefe, as well as the other gate- 

 ways, are difguiied with branches of trees and bamboos 

 ituck in the ground fo as to give them the appearance of a 

 natural jungle,) the greater! difficulty is to get the herd to 

 enter the firlt or outer enelofure ; for, not with (banding the 

 precautions taken to difguife both the entries as well as the 

 palifade which unrounds this enelofure, the Palmai, or 

 leader, now appears to fufpeci fome fnare, from the difficulty 

 and hciilation with which in general ilie pailes into it; but, 

 as fopn as die enters, the whole herd implicitly follows. 

 Immediately, when they are all palled the gateway, fires are 

 lighted round the greateft part of the enelofure, and particiir 

 larly at the entries, to prevent the elephants from returning-. 

 The hunters from without then make a terrible noife by 

 fhout'mg, beating of tomtoms (a kind of drum), firing blunt 

 cartridges, &c. to urge the herd on to the next enclosure. 

 The elephants, finding themfelves enfnared, feream and make 

 anoil'e; but, feeing no opening except the entrance to the 

 next enelofure, and which they at firft generally avoid, they 

 return to the place through which they lately palled, think- 

 ing perhaps to efeape, but now find it ftrongly barricaded; 

 and as there Is no ditch at this place, the hunters, to pre- 

 vent their coming near and forcing their way, keep a line of 

 tin- conftantly burning all along where the ditch is inter- 

 rupted, and fupply it with fuel from the top of the palifade ; 

 and the .people from without make a noife, fhouting and 

 K3 hallooing, 



