280 DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS. — CLASS I. MAMMALIA. 



many occasions in a tame state, or to be so timorous and wary as African 

 travellers describe the animal of tb.at country. One of the most connnonly 

 employed means of capture is driving tlicm into a kcdilah, or enclosure, with 

 a wide or extensive o[)ening, whicli is gradually narrowed, and made on the 

 same principle with tlie bullido pound. The strength, however, of the last 

 enclosure is very different. There is a broad ditch, too wide fur an elephant to 

 stride over, of a considerable depth, and around, on the outside, is a paling 

 of large timbers, well bound with strong battens, and supported liv props at 

 suitable distances, forming an inmicnse bulwark. AVhen a large herd of 

 elepiiants is discovered, or when two or more small herds arc found so con- 

 tiguous as to be easily brought together, the people of the neighboring 

 country, who in general recei\e regular wages for tlicir aid, are collected to 

 surround them, and often assemble to the numljer of six or eight thousand 

 men, with fire-arms, drums, trumpets, fire-works, and, in short, anything 

 that can intimidate the hci'd. Tiic whole body move slowly towards the 

 f"iimiel, in which is strewed a small cpiantity of those fruits and vegetables in 

 which clephauts delight, such as plantains, sugar-canes, &c. Many days are 

 frcipicutly rci|iiired to drive a herd, and sometimes the elephants are dri\en 

 thirty or forty miles. The circle is gradually narrowed as the fumiel is 

 approached, and when fairly within, the funnel itself forms a pai;t of the cir- 

 cle. They begin to taste some of their favorite foods, which being ipiickly 

 consumed, some by degrees venture into the keddah itself. The cxamjilc is 

 soon followed, and but little coercion is required now to urge the whole within 

 the paling, which is then secured with stroiig bars. 



At one period, the manner of sulijection, after the animals were thus en- 

 closed, was by starvation, binding their legs with strong ropes, and gradually 

 accustoming them to the individual who was afterwards to have them in 

 charge. It has, however, been found to be much more advantageous to 

 entice them by kindness ; by this treatment they are sooner subjected, and 

 arc not liable to be rendered useless from the cutting wounds inflicted by the 

 ropes with which tliej^ were bound, and which, in a wfirin climate, ulcerated 

 to an inunense extent, and often proved fatal. AMien one is in a proper state 

 to be removed, tame males, or decoy females, are used, which lead him to the 

 place where he is to be picketed. Here the mahout, or keeper, redoubles his 

 care and caresses, and seldom fails to become a favorite, and often an object 

 of great attachment to the animal. . 



The most singular method, however, which has been adopted for taking 

 ele[)hants, is by the assistance of decoy females, which enter into the under- 

 taking as if they were as much interested in it as their owners. This is 

 chiefly practised with those males which have been driven off from the herd, 

 and are wandering about by themselves. They are known by the title of 



