850 THE ELEPIIAA^T. [Part VIIL 



by half that width. At one end an entrance was left 

 open, fitted with shding bars, so prepared as to be capable 

 of being instantly shut ; — and from each angle of the 

 end by which the elephants were to approach, two hnes 

 of the same strong fencing were continued on either 

 side, and cautiously concealed by the trees ; so that if, 

 instead of entering by the open passage, the herd were 

 to swerve to right or left, they would find themselves 

 suddenly stopped and forced to retrace then- course to the 

 gate. 



The preparations were completed by placing a stage 

 for the governor's party on a group of the nearest trees 

 looking down into the enclosure, so that a \dew could 

 be had of the entire proceeding, fi^om the entrance of 

 the herd, to the leading out of the captive elephants. 



It is unnecessary to observe that the structure here de- 

 scribed, ponderous as it is, would be entu'ely ineffectual 

 to resist the shock, if assaulted by the full force of an en- 

 raged elephant ; and accidents have sometimes happened 

 by the breaking through of the herd ; but reliance is 

 placed not so much on the resistance of the stockade as 

 on the timidity of the captives ; and their unconscious- 

 ness of their own strength, coupled with the daring of 

 their captors and their devices for ensming submission. 



The corral being thus prepared, the beaters address 

 themselves to drive in the elephants. For this purpose it 

 is often necessary to fetch a circuit of many miles in order 

 to surround a sufficient number, and the caution to be 

 observed involves patience and delay ; as it is essential 

 to avoid alarming the elephants, which might otherwise 

 rush in the wrong direction. Their disposition being 

 essentially peaceful, and their only impulse to browse 

 in solitude and security ; they withdraw instinctively 

 before the slightest intrusion, and advantage is taken 

 of this timidity and love of retirement to cause only 

 just such an amount of disturbance as will induce them 

 to move slowly onwards in the direction which it is de- 

 sired they should take. Several herds are by this means 



