126 THE DACCA KHEDDAIl ESTABLISHMENT. 



attendants ; a shelter for howdahs and ropes, &c. The depot is situated 

 close to the river for convenience of bathing and watering the elephants, and 

 also that fodder may be brought by boats. 



IMost of the elephants required for the service of the Bengal Government 

 are furnished by the Dacca establishment. It is under a European officer, 

 and a yearly exodus of all hands is made to hunt in the forest-tracts of 

 Chittagong and Assam. The establishment contains fifty trained elephants 

 or koonkics, — derived from the Hindoostan word kumuk, aid. These are all 

 females. In addition to the permanent stud of koonkies, there is always a 

 lai'ge number of new elephants undergoing training. When fit for service 

 these are allotted to military stations as required. The hunting-party 

 usually leaves Dacca about the beginning of December, and after working 

 for three or four months (this season is selected as little rain falls), returns 

 with the captured elephants about ]\Iay. The training of these occupies the 

 establishment till November, when the animals are despatched to Commis- 

 sariat stations, leaving the establishment free to hunt again. The annual 

 captures in Dacca for seven years prior to 1875-76 averaged fifty-nine 

 elephants. I found from old records that from 183G to 1839 inclusive, 

 sixty-nine elephants were the annual average. 



In the chapter upon the method of capturing elephants, I have men- 

 tioned the composition of a Bengal hunting-party. Tlie expense of main- 

 taining the full number of men of which it consists tlie whole year round 

 would be so great tliat only the jemadars and chief men are permanently 

 employed, the coolies required being enlisted for two or three months annu- 

 ally, as required. This system of hunting has been pursued by the Bengal 

 Government, and probably by former native governments, so long, that the 

 people required for kheddahs are easily collected at Chittagong and other 

 centres. Though many die at times from the effects of these jungle-triiis, 

 and some are killed almost every year by elephants, there are always plenty 

 of volunteers for the work. 



The permanent Superintendent of the Dacca Kheddahs having obtained 

 furlough to England, I accepted the acting appointment for eigliteen montlis, 

 but I only held it for nine, as I was permitted to return to IMysore at the 

 end of that period to continue klieddah operations there. And tliougli I was 

 under orders to return to Dacca for the last three months of my olficiating 

 term, to make another expedition into Chittagong in January 1877, the 

 return of the permanent Superintendent before the expiration of his leave 

 rendered my doing so unnecessary. 



I took charge of the despot from IVfajor C. in September, 1875. As 

 we sat at a table under a shady tree in the ([uadraiigle, with a mil of the 



