CONSTRUCTING A ZAREBA 



of their pads than he set to work. Selecting a spot about 

 ten feet square, surrounded by some stunted trees, he 

 ordered two of the " mahouts " to take their elephants 

 inside to tear away the creepers and tread down all the 

 undergrowth. This done he spread one of the tarpaulins 

 on the trampled foliage to serve the purposes of a 

 carpet. 



His next proceeding was to collect all the pads which 

 he caused to be placed edgeways on the ground, propped 

 up against the tree trunks, thus completing an enclosure 

 or zareba, which with its encircling walls of some four feet 

 in height, made as good a shelter as the most fastidious 

 sportsman could desire. 



Having completed these arrangements he stood for 

 some time surveying his handiwork with evident satisfac- 

 tion till it seemed suddenly to occur to him that the struc- 

 ture might with advantage be provided with a roof an 

 idea he had no sooner conceived than he proceeded to 

 carry out with a rapidity and thoroughness characteristic 

 of all this old man's actions, for despite his years and 

 seemingly physical incapacity, he was singularly free from 

 the apathy and inertia so often found in natives of all 

 classes. 



Calling on the mahouts to bring him another tarpaulin, 

 he quickly had it rigged up as a canopy over the enclosure, 

 utilizing four of the corner trees as posts, then suspending 

 a hurricane lantern from one of the branches underneath, 

 he came up to us and reported that our bedroom was 

 ready. 



Meanwhile the magistrate and myself had been seeing 

 to the elephants being securely tethered with chains, each 

 by its hind legs to a tree, as well as hobbles round the 

 fore-feet to prevent their straying in case they broke away, 

 which they would probably attempt to do should a herd 

 of their wild brethren or the rogue be in the neighbourhood 

 and approach the camp during the night. 



The Forest Officer, however, had been differently em- 

 ployed. Ever mindful of his bugbear, a forest fire, he had 

 forbidden any cooking to be done by the men or even by 

 his own cook, who on hearing of the order had come to 

 him in despair, begging to be exempted for, as he pleaded 



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