CAPTURING ELEPHANTS. 107 



when at rest, or stealthily following in his footsteps if in mo- 

 tion, they attach this rope to his hind legs. When at rest the 

 elephant 'has a habit of swinging his hind feet, which aids the 

 catchers in slipping the nouse over the leg. Should the 

 noosing be eflfected in open ground where there is no free to 

 which to secure the prize, one man allows himself to be pur- 

 sued by the enraged elephant, and thus entices him to a more 

 favoraJDle locality, where the other man seizes the trailing rope 

 and winds it around some convenient tree. The animal now 

 turns upon his new assailant, but the first provokes him with 

 gesticulations and taunting shouts of ^'dahl dah I" of which 

 word the animal has a remarkable dislike. Meanwhile, the 

 man's comrade has secured the first noose, entangles one foot 

 after the other until all are secured, and the capture complete. 



Then a shelter of branches is put up for the men, and day 

 and night they^ remain encamped before their prisoner. The 

 elephant, in a few days at the farthest, becomes submissive, 

 subdued by exhaustion and hunger, the terror of the fire which 

 he dreads, and the smoke which he detests. Then an abund- 

 ance of plantains and other dainties are given him, he is sup- 

 plied with plenty of water, of which he is very fond, and grad- 

 ually he becomes reconciled to his keepers, and finally they 

 venture to start with their huge prisoner for their own village, 

 generally many miles away, with forests and jungles interven- 

 ing. Still too morose to permit his captors to ride him, and 

 too powerful to be led or driven, this forced march taxes the 

 ingenuity of the hunters to the utmost. Alternately vexing 

 and eluding him, they keep his attention constantly attracted, 

 and so induce him to move in the desired direction. The rope 

 with which the capture was efi'ected is of some assistance^ be- 

 sides being used to tie up the animal at night, and this is never 

 removed from his leg until he is sufficiently tame to be entrusted 

 with partial liberty. 



Frequently a whole herd, numbering from thirty to one hun- 

 dred individuals, is captured at once, but in this case a different 

 plan from the foregoing is adopted. The custom in Bengal is 

 to construct a strong enclosure (called a keddah) in the heai-t 

 of the forest, formed of the trunks of trees firmly secured by 

 transverse beams and buttresses, and leaving a gate for the en- 

 trance of the elephants. A second enclosure, opening from the 

 first, contains water (if possible a rivulet ;) this again commu- 

 nicates with a third, which terminates in a funnel-shaped pas- 

 sage, too narrow to admit of an elephant turaing, and within 

 this the captives being driven in line, are secured with ropes 

 introduced from the outside, and led away in custody of tamed 



