AT THE KHEDDAHS. 3 



inestimable value, such as they were accustomed to 

 see among their own rajas; or at least a gorgeous 

 uniform with cocked hat and feathers, and breast 

 blazing with orders ; and it took a good deal to 

 convince them that the tall, slight figure which 

 after some delay emerged from a saloon carriage, 

 dressed in a pink silk night-suit, with naked feet 

 thrust into slippers, and bare head, and alighted 

 on the platform rubbing his sleep-heavy eyes, 

 was the Royal visitor ! The Prince had been 

 asleep, and was awakened to have his cup of 

 early tea. After he had partaken of this beverage, 

 however, the Dewan (Chief Minister) of Mysore, 

 Sir Sheshadri Iyer, and one or two others were 

 presented to him. " What/* said a native friend, 

 " can this be his Royal Highness ? No chobdars 

 (silence-keepers), no mace-bearers, no guards, no 

 standards, no firing of guns, nothing to distinguish 

 him from the common ? " 



The kheddahs, or elephant-traps, were constructed 

 in a heavily-wooded valley at the foot of the 

 Belligherry Rungan hills, fifty-six miles from 

 the railway terminus at Mysore city. For fifty 

 miles the Maharaja of Mysore a skilful whip 

 drove his illustrious guest in his four-in-hand up 

 to the edge of the forest, whence saddle horses 

 conveyed the party to the platform overlooking the 

 massive drop-gate which was to close the entrance 

 of the kheddah, once the herd of elephants had 

 been driven into it. The kheddah had been con- 

 structed months before. A short description of this 

 elephant- trap may not be uninteresting. During 



