AT THE KHEDDAHS. 9 



the open door. A renewed clapping of hands sent 

 a young tusker and five large females through the 

 entrance, when down came the ponderous door 

 and separated them from the rest of the herd. 

 Bang ! bang ! with blank cartridge into the faces 

 of those nearest to the gate, and the herd retreated 

 to the middle of the enclosure, where they were left 

 for the time while the six animals on the other side 

 were being dealt with. Among these was a very 

 large female with one exception the largest in the 

 herd which had been separated from her calf. She 

 appeared to be nearly frantic, and made repeated 

 charges at the door, in spite of rounds of blank cart- 

 ridge fired in her face. Her charges were terrific 

 and would probably have brought down the great 

 door if the koonkies, or tame elephants, had not 

 been sent in to secure her. Six trained female 

 elephants, with mahouts (drivers) on their necks, 

 were turned into the enclosure and endeavoured to 

 surround the frantic mother ; but she simply 

 pushed them aside and again made for the door. 

 Jung Bahadoor, the great fighting elephant of the 

 Maharaja of Mysore, was then sent in, and took up 

 a position before the gate with his formidable tusks 

 in front, making a barrier on which the furious 

 female would impale herself should she attempt to 

 charge. She approached within a few yards of 

 Jung, looked at him attentively and then trumpeted 

 loudly, and was answered by a shrill signal from 

 her calf on the other side. She appeared inclined 

 even to push by the great tusker, but a warning 

 grunt from him seemed to cow her. The koonkies 



