AT THE KHEDDAHS. 5 



second or securing stockade. This large enclosure 

 must be plentifully supplied with food and water, 

 so that the beasts may not be in want of either 

 during the time they are kept within the encircling 

 stockade. 



It was at this stage of the proceedings that the 

 Prince and his party arrived on the scene to witness 

 the drive into the second or securing stockade. Plat- 

 forms high up among the branches of the trees, and 

 overlooking the trap-door closing the entrance to 

 the second enclosure, had been erected for the 

 spectators, and to these the party was silently 

 conducted. A cord connected with the arrange- 

 ment for closing the great doors was placed in the 

 hand of the Prince, and he was requested to give 

 it a slight tug as soon as the last of the herd had 

 passed from the first into the second enclosure. A 

 herd of thirty-seven elephants had been quietly 

 enticed into the largest enclosure about a fortnight 

 before, and now at a preconcerted signal the drive 

 was to begin. Boomay Gowda, the famous Sholigay 

 tracker, of whom Sanderson gives an interesting 

 account in his " Thirteen Years Among the Wild 

 Beasts of India," had charge of this delicate opera- 

 tion. Beaters had been placed at intervals of thirty 

 paces all round the large enclosure. These men 

 were concealed from view, but should an elephant 

 attempt to break through the stockade they would 

 come out of their concealment, and the elephant, 

 catching sight of them, would at once turn away. 

 The beat was conducted in perfect silence, the 

 spectators being asked to keep as quiet as possible. 



