170 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



surrounding a herd (wherever found in the forest) by a large 

 circle of men (370 is the usual number), and building a stockade, 

 into which the herd are driven. This is known as the Govern- 

 ment Kheddah plan, and is the most certain and economical 

 method of taking wild elephants. By this means, as many as 1 18 

 have been secured at one drive. 



When a sufficient number have been taken, the hunters are 

 dismissed, and all elephants under 7 ft. in height are sold to 

 merchants, who follow the Kheddah parties for the purpose of 

 purchasing such animals. Those above 7 ft. are retained for the 

 Government service, except some males and old females, which 

 are also disposed of. Not more than 30 per cent, of the elephants 

 captured are young and strong females thoroughly suitable for 

 Government service. Those selected are divided into gangs of 

 twenties, with a propoi*tion of tame ones in charge. These 

 escort the wild ones, bring their fodder, and lead them to water 

 daily. The maicli from the jungle commences about the end of 

 February, and the elephants reach the Government depot at Dacca 

 in May. They are then put into training, and by November are 

 quite steady, and are drafted for military service. 



During the past five years the annual average number of 

 elephants captured during the short working season from 

 December to February has been 154. The greatest number in 

 any single year was 252 in seven weeks in 1882, and 199 in a 

 similar period in 1883. Between 1878 and 1883 no less than 

 1866 wild elephants had been captured by the Dacca hunting 

 establishment in a tract of country about fifty miles long by 

 twenty miles broad in the Garo Hills in Assam, whilst fully as 

 many more were met with en route. Mr. Sanderson concluded by 

 stating that, notwithstanding these hunting operations, he con- 

 sidered the elephant as in no danger of becoming extinct in 

 India, for, although small portions of its haunts had been cleared 

 for tea and coffee cultivation, he thought the present forest area 

 of the country would practically never be reduced, for reasons 

 connected with the timber supply and climate ; and, so long as its 

 haunts remain, the elephant would flourish under due regulations 

 for its protection. 



