i?^ HISIOKY OF 



liend several of the signs made to it, and even the different 

 sounds of the voice ; it perfectly distinguishes the tone of com- 

 mand from that of anger or approbation, and acts accordingly. 

 It is seldom deceived in its master's voice ; it receives his orders, 



to the ucxt station, wliich concludes the first day's work. Ou the follow, 

 iiif,' morning: a new, but more circiunscribed, circle is formed, except to 

 wards that point to which they wish the elephants to move, to either side 

 of wliich those parties advance which were most in the rear. A great noise 

 is then made, and the elephants, being alaimed, proceed for\vards, and a 

 new circle is formed, which from day to day is lessened, till they arrive at 

 the Keddah, or place in which they ai'e to be secured, and wliich consists Of 

 three inclosures, of wliich the first is the largest, and the last the smallest. 

 Tlie inclosures are constructed of strong palisades, fastened on the outer 

 side by buttresses, and each surroimded by a deep ditch : the entrances to 

 tl ezn are narrow and dressed with trees and bamboos, to imitate a jungle. 

 To the first indosure, or Baigcote, are two entrances, and the great difli- 

 culty is to induce the elephants to enter it, as the leader appears to suspect 

 a snare, but after one has passed the whole herd follow. The gates are then 

 barricaded, fires raised around the inclosure, and a great noise set up to 

 drive the animals into the second, or Doobraxecote, and afterwards into the 

 third, or Rajecote. During the time that the herd is confined in tlie inclo- 

 Bin-es, they make frequent attempts to escape, but at whatever quarter they 

 endeavour so to do, the hunters thrust in burning grass through the pali- 

 sades, and make a great noise to frighten them off. Having been driven into 

 the last inclosure, they are kept there for some days, and fed sparingly, near 

 the Roomee ; but care is taken that there be a pool of water wtliin the in- 

 closure for the herd to refresh themselves. In order to secure them, the 

 gates leading to the Roomee (wliich is a narrow passage siifricient to allow 

 an elephant to pass into, but not turn round in it) are opened, and one of 

 tlie animals is enticed into it; the gates are then shut, and after he has 

 fatigued himself, in liis exertions to escape, ropes with nooses are thrown 

 down, and as soon as he treads in one it is drawn tight, and Ms leg secured 

 to the palisade, and so on till all four are tied : after which, men enter and 

 secure liim with ropes, as has been before described, when he is brought 

 to the end of the Roomee, and fastened to two female elephants, in readiness 

 for that purpose, which conduct him to a tree to wliich he is bound. Some, 

 times, instead of driving the herd into diiferent inclosures, and into the 

 Roomee to be bound, there is but one large inclosure, and into this the 

 Kootnkees are sent, and the elephants are tied in the same mode employed 

 for securing the Goondahs. 



Such is the mode of elephant hunting in India, but in Ceylon there is 

 some difference. A large inclosure is made with cocoa wood around a pooj 

 of water, into which are several long and tortuous p;issages for the ele- 

 Iihants, and some snwllor wickets for the hunters. The ponds having been 

 guarded for some days, to prevent the animals getting access to them, they 

 are beset in the woods by the natives, who drive them out ; when, finding 

 themselves surrounded on every side except on that of the inclosed pass, 

 ages, they are compelled by thirst and the surrounding noise, which is con. 

 tinually kept up, to pass through these into the inclosuie. Here they arc 



