THE ELEPHANT. J4<) 



Mode oi' taking wild clcphartts. 



but the third is the strongest; nor are the ele- 

 phants deemed secure till they have entered it. 

 This, like the two other enclosures, has a deep 

 ditch on the inside ; and upon the bank of earth 

 thrown up from the excavation, a row of strong 

 palisades of middle-sized trees is planted, 

 strengthened with cross bars, and supported on 

 the outside by strong posts like buttresses, hav- 

 ing one end sunk in the earth, and the other 

 pressing against the cross bars to which they are 

 fastened. It must, also, be observed, that the 

 palisades and gateways are all disguised with 

 branches of trees and bamboos stuck in the 

 ground, so as to give them the appearance of a 

 natural jungle. 



It seems, that the greatest difficulty consists in 

 getting the herd to enter the first enclosure; for, 

 notwithstanding all the precautions that have 

 been used, the leader appears to suspect some 

 snare, from the difficulty and hesitation with, 

 which she generally passes into it: but as soon 

 as she enters, the whole herd implicitly follow. 

 As soon as they have all passed the gateway, 

 fires are kindled round the greatest part of the 

 enclosure, and particularly at the entrances, to 

 prevent the animals from returning; and the 

 hunters from without make a terrible noise by 

 shouting, beating their drums called tomtoms, 

 firing blank cartridges, &c. to urge the herd on 

 to the next enclosure. The elephants, finding 

 themselves ensnared, begin to scream violently; 



