142 NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Method of catching wild elephants. 



by devouring and treading down the rice, sugar- 

 canes, &c. 



These depredations oblige the farmers to keep 

 regular watch under a small cover, erected on the 

 top of a few long bamboos raised about fourteen 

 feet from the ground. From this elevated station 

 an alarm is easily communicated, by means of a 

 rattle to the neighbouring villagers, who either 

 scare the intruders away with reiterated shouts, 

 or impede their progress by lighting a number of 

 fires. To secure one of the males a very differ- 

 ent method is used from that which is employed 

 to catch a herd ; for the former is taken by fe- 

 male elephants trained for the purpose, and the 

 latter is driven into a strong enclosure. 



" As the hunters are perfectly acquainted with 

 the places where the elephants come out in quest 

 of food, they advance towards them, in the even- 

 ing, with four trained females, that being the 

 number of which each hunting party consists ; 

 when the nights are dark, the male elephants are 

 discovered by the noise they make in cleaning 

 their food, by striking it against their fore-legs; 

 and by moonlight the hunters can see them dis- 

 tinctly at a considerable distance. 



" As soon as they have determined on the 

 goouda/i, or male elephant, they mean to secure, 

 three of the trained females are conducted slowly 

 and silently toward the place where he is feeding. 

 When the male perceives them approaching, if 

 he take the alarm and be viciously inclined, he 



