34 



THE ELEPHANTS. 



preponderate so greatly that a panic is easily esta- 

 blished, and elephants that might otherwise behave 

 boldly become infected with the general fear. . . . 

 "On the day following the investment of the herd, 

 the construction of the kheddah, or small enclosure 

 into which the elephants are to be driven, is com- 

 menced. It is situated on one of their chief paths 

 (within the circle) and is constructed with the trunks 

 of young trees, about 6 inches in diameter, and 12 

 feet high, arranged in a circle of from 20 to 50 

 yards across. Inside, round the foot of the pali- 

 sades, a trench 6 feet wide and 4 feet deep is dug, 

 the earth from this being thrown up into a bank on 

 the inner side. The trench and bank of loose earth 

 usually deter elephants from attacking the stockade, 

 or should they do so, prevent their employing their 

 full force against it. The palisades are lashed to- 

 gether with canes, and are strongly supported by 

 cross beams and forked supports behind, the whole 

 structure being designed to support outward pres- 

 sure only. Were elephants to pull the palisades 

 inwards, they would yield at once, but they never 

 use their trunks for this purpose. An entrance of 

 4 yards in width is left for the ingress of the herd, 

 and a gate, studded inside with sharp spikes, is 

 either slung from the trees overhead, or is made in 

 two leaves, and is pushed to upon the entrance of 

 the herd, by men stationed behind it. 



"Astockadeof 40 yards indiameteraccommodates 

 100 elephants easily. To guide the elephants into 

 it, two lines of strong palisades are run out from 

 the gate along each side of the path by which the 

 herd is to approach. These guiding wings diverge 

 to perhaps 60 yards across at their commencement, 

 which may be 100 yards or so from the gate. 

 When the whole is completed, the new woodwork 

 is hidden with leaves and branches. The stockade 

 is usually completed in three or four days. The 

 hunters consider Friday the most lucky day for 

 driving, and they make extraordinary efforts to get 

 the stockade ready by that day if possible. The 

 work of the stockade is done by one half the hunters 

 being taken from the large circle from morning till 

 evening daily, as a weak cordon of guards suffices 

 to keep the elephants in during the day. 



" All being in readiness for driving a number of 

 men are taken from the original circle, and a smaller 

 interior surround is formed by commencing at the 

 guiding wings of the kheddah, and posting the men 

 until the elephants are again closed. The original 

 circle is, of course, still maintained, in case of the 

 elephants breaking through the inner one. If the 



herd be in two or three detachments, as frequently 

 happens, these are quietly driven together, and the 

 whole are then moved forward towards the kheddah. 

 Should they show an inclination to break to the 

 right or left, the men deter them by striking their 

 axes against the trees. When the elephants gain 

 the funnel-shaped approach to the stockade, the 

 men close in from behind, and from the sides, and 

 urge them on with shots and shouts. If the herd 

 suspects danger, and breaks back through the 

 beaters, fatal accidents not uncommonly occur. 

 Sometimes a herd declines altogether to go in the 

 direction of the stockade, owing to their having the 

 wind from thatquarter. In sucha case a new stockade 

 may have to be constructed, and if that does not 

 succeed, others also. In this way elephants are 

 sometimes kept in a surround for a month. . . . 



"When a herd has been driven into the stockade, 

 the gate is closed and barricaded, and men with 

 firebrands and spears repel any attacks upon it or 

 the palisades. But the trench is usually sufficient 

 to deter the elephants from crossing it. On the 

 same, or following day, ten or twelve tame ele- 

 phants are admitted with a mahout and rope-tier 

 upon each. . . . The mahouts separate the 

 wild elephants one by one from their companions, 

 when their hind legs are tied by men who slip to 

 the ground for the purpose. A rope is then secured 

 round each captive's neck, and to its hind legs, and 

 it is led out and picketed in the forest near. . . . 



"The number of wild elephants that can be taken 

 care of is, at the most, 50 per cent more than the 

 tame ones. As each capture is concluded, the wild 

 elephants are marched out of the jungle into open 

 country, for if kept in the forest they continue to 

 be excited by jungle sights and sounds, and to 

 struggle for liberty, whilst flies are much more 

 troublesome to their wounds in the jungle than in 

 the plains. Each batch of new elephants requires 

 a number of tame ones to be detached in charge of 

 it; thus the hunting operations are limited by the 

 number of the latter. 



"When a sufficient number of elephants has been 

 taken, the hunters are dismissed, and all elephants 

 under 7 feet in height are sold to merchants who 

 follow the kheddah parties for the purpose of pur- 

 chasing such. Those above 7 feet are retained for 

 government service, except some males and old 

 females, which are also disposed of. Not more 

 than 30 per cent of the elephants captured are 

 young and strong females, thoroughly suitable for 

 government service." 



