148 NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Mode of taking wild elephants. 



close up, take their respective stations, and pass 

 the night as before. In the morning the same 

 process is repeated; and in this manner the ele- 

 phants advance slowly in that direction where 

 they find themselves least incommoded by the 

 clamour of the hunters; and feed as they go 

 along, upon the leaves of bamboos, branches of 

 trees, &c. which come in their way. As the peo- 

 ple employed on this occasion are extremely slow 

 in their operations, they seldom bring the herd 

 above one circle in a day, except on an emer- 

 gency, when they exert themselves and advance 

 two circles. They have no tents, nor covering 

 but the thick woods, which, in the day-time, 

 keep off the solar rays ; and at night they sleep 

 upon mats, wrapt up in a piece of coarse cloth, 

 and surrounded by their fires. Sentinels supply 

 these fires with fuel, and particularly with green 

 bamboos, which, by their snapping and crackling 

 noise, deter the elephants from coining near ; so 

 that the herd generally remains near the centre 

 of the circle. Should they, however, attempt to 

 advance, an alarm is given, and the people 

 frighten them back by shouting and springing 

 their rattles. 



The heddah, or place where the herd is to be 

 secured, consists of three enclosures, communi- 

 cating with each other by narrow gateways. The 

 outer enclosure is the largest, the middle one is 

 generally the next in size, and the third is the 

 smallest. These enclosures are all pretty strong, 



