128 HISTORY OF THE ELEPHANT, 



are employed to surround it, who divide themselves into 

 small parties, consisting generally of three men, each at 

 the distance of about twenty or thirty yards from the 

 other, and form an irregular circle, in which the elephants 

 are enclosed ; each party lights a fire and clears a foot- 

 path to the station that is next him, by which a regular 

 communication is soon formed through the whole circum- 

 ference from one to the other. By this path reinforce- 

 ments can immediately be brought to any place where an 

 alarm is given ; and it is also necessary for the superin- 

 tendants, who are always going round, to see that the 

 people are alert upon their posts. 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 them- 

 selves and companions. Early next niorning, 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 new 

 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, drums, &c., to cause the ele- 

 phants 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 process is repeated, and in this 

 manner the herd advances slowly in that direction, where 

 they find themselves least incommoded by the noise and 

 clamor of the hunters, feeding as they go along upon 

 branches of trees, &c. If they suspected any snare, they 

 could easily break through the circle ; but this inoffensive 

 animal, 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 



