SHIPMENT OF TAME ELEPHANTS. 443 



healed, when the shipment is effected in the most primitive 

 manner, it being next to impossible to induce the still un- 

 tamed creature to walk on board, and no mechanical contri- 

 vances being provided to ship him. A native boat, of about 

 forty tons burtlien, is brought alongside the quay, and being 

 about three parts filled with the strong-ribbed leaves of the 

 Palmyra palm, it is lashed so that the gunwale may be as 

 nearly as possible on a line with the level of the wharf. The 

 elephant, being placed with his back to the water, is forced by 

 goads to retreat till his hind-legs go over the side of the quay; 

 but the main contest commences when it is attempted to dis- 

 engage his fore-feet from the shore, and force him to entrust 

 himself on board. The scene becomes exciting from the 

 screams and trumpetings of the elephants, the shouts of the 

 Arabs, and the rushing of the crowd. Meanwhile the huge 

 creature strains every nerve to regain the land ; and the day is 

 often consumed before his efforts are overcome, and he finds 

 himself fairly afloat. The same boat will take from four ,t6 

 five elephants, who place themselves athwart it, and exhibit 

 amusing adroitness in accommodating their own movements to 

 the rolling of the little vessel, and in this way they are ferried 

 across the narrow strait which separates the continent of India 

 from Ceylon.' * 



Unfortunately, my limits forbid me entering upon a detailed 

 account of the great elephant hunts of India and Ceylon, where 

 whole herds are driven into an enclosure and entrapped in one 

 vast decoy. This may truly be called the sublime of sport, for 

 nowhere is it conducted on a grander scale, or so replete with 

 thrilling emotions. The keddah or corral, as the enclosure is 

 called, is constructed in the depth of the forest, several hun- 

 dred paces long, and half as broad, and of a strength commen- 

 surate to the power of the animals it is intended to secure. 

 Slowly and cautiously the doomed herds are driven onwards 

 from a vast circuit by thousands of beaters in narrowing circles 

 to the fatal gate, which is instantly closed behind them, and 

 then the hunters, rushing with wild clamour and blazing 

 torches to the stockade, complete the terror of the bewildered 

 animals. Trumpeting and screaming with rage and fear, they 



* Tennent's ' Ceylon,' vol. ii. pp. 336-340. 



