654 aUADRUPEDS. 



their way into this place, it being sufficiently crammed, the cords 

 were cut, and the barricading gate dropped down. The greater 

 part of those which had entered were so closely wedged together, 

 that many of them were motionless ; and even the foremost, which 

 were less confined, saw only a fallacious opening to lead them from 

 this doleful labyrinth. Upwards of one hundred of the captured 

 herd, cut off from their companions, were left for a time to range 

 at greater liberty in the larger prison.'* 



All this took place during the night. 



" At sunrise," continues Mr. Cordiner, " we became spectators 

 of a most extraordinary sight. So great a number of enormous 

 animals crowded into so small a compass, is a spectacle rarely to be 

 seen. Pressing heavily upon one another, incapable of almost any 

 movement but convulsions of distress, their paroxyisms of anguish 

 could not be contemplated without emotion. No person could find 

 language to express his feelings. Ail were struck dumb with a 

 species of astonishment hitherto unexperienced. The most hazardous 

 part of the business remains, that of seizing on the elephants at the 

 end of the long passage, which is the only outlet from the water 

 snare. They are driven in one by one, making furious efforts to 

 regain their liberty on finding themselves prisoners. When they 

 reach the gate at the end, strong beams are inserted across the pas- 

 sage behind, to prevent them from retreating. Men then approach, 

 and bind their hind legs with great ropes, and five or six turns of 

 smaller cordage are passed round their necks. While these ope- 

 rations are going on, a man stands before the gate of the passage, 

 tickling the elephant's trunk, and diverting his attention. In this 

 manner they are secured, yet accidents frequently happen at this 

 time. On the present occasion, one unfortunate man tumbled into 

 the passage, and was instantly trampled to death under the feet of 

 an enraged elephant. They frequently press against one another in 

 the water snare, and the passage, with so much violence, that some 

 are squeezed to death, or drop down dead with fatigue." 



When the wild elephant is completely harnessed, two tame ele- 

 phants, trained to the business, are brought to the gate, and placed 

 one on each side of it. These immediately survey the prisoner 

 whom they have to conduct, feel his mouth to know whether he 

 has tusks or not, and lay hold of his proboscis to ascertain what 

 degree of resistance he is likely to make. Ropes are passed through 

 the collar of the wild elephant, and made fast to similar collars on 



