160 THE ELEPHANT. 



these animals are to be found. All these hunters form 

 a vast circle, which they gradually narrow, advancing 

 and shouting. 



The frightened elephants have but one side to fly, 

 and there is found the " redan,'* into which they are 

 forced to enter. This redan is nothing less than a 

 great circle of stakes, terminating in a sort of narrow 

 neck ; once entered into which the elephants can no 

 longer return. In order to force them to enter, shouts 

 are increased, and burning torches are thrown before 

 their eyes ; then their fears are redoubled, and they 

 rush into the trap, which encloses them. The first 

 care after the capture is to tame them. 



This is managed by placing one or two tame ele- 

 phants near the opening, by which the wild ones are 

 made to pass out, tied together, as we have said 

 already. Hunger on the one hand, and blows from the 

 trunks of their docile companions on the other, soon 

 inspire them with resignation. 



They, are also taken by pitfalls. A path is chosen 

 which is used many times in the year by the elephants, 

 and which probably serves as a route in going from 

 the jungles to some spring in the mountains. 



Across these paths several pits are dug of about 

 twenty feet wide and fifteen to twenty feet deep, and 

 which are then covered over with branches and turf. 



However admirably these pits may be concealed, 



