4 IN THE INDIAN JUNGLE. 



the dry months from January to May, when fodder 

 is scarce on the plains, the elephants retire to the 

 upper slopes of the hills, where green food is more 

 abundant. With the first rains in June the herds 

 seek the rich pastures at the foot of the hills, and 

 make occasional raids into the neighbouring grain 

 fields. During the absence of the elephants (from 

 January to May) a site for the trap is selected at 

 the foot of the hills, in some low, heavily-wooded 

 valley known to be one of their favourite resorts. 

 Plenty of forage, such as they love, and an ample 

 supply of water are the great desiderata, and a 

 ploughing or two, and planting with coarse cereals 

 make the locality chosen more enticing. Three 

 circular stockades, the largest one hundred and 

 fifty acres in extent, the next one acre, and the 

 smallest half an acre, with an opening from the 

 largest into the second, and from that into the third, 

 and all surrounded by a ditch eight feet deep and 

 six feet wide, form the kheddah. Diverging lines 

 of stockade and trench radiate from the circumfer- 

 ence of the largest enclosure, and stretch across the 

 width of the valley. When the herds come down 

 from the hills and enter the top of the valley they 

 gradually feed towards the lower end, till stopped by 

 the diverging trench and turned towards the open- 

 ing of the largest enclosure. Once within this en- 

 closure the herd is practically secured, the entrance 

 being guarded by a line of beaters, who frighten 

 away the animals should they make any attempt 

 to return. Here the elephants may be left till such 

 time as it is convenient to begin the drive into the 



