THE ELEPHANT. " 131 



trees and bamboos stuck in the ground, so as to give 

 them the appearance of a natural jungle,) great dif- 

 ficulty attends the business of getting them in. The 

 leader always suspects some snare, and it is not with- 

 out the utmost hesitation that he passes ; but as soon 

 as he enters, all the rest implicitly follow. Lnmediate- 

 ly, when they have passed the gateway, iires are 

 lighted round the greatest part of the inclosure, and 

 particularly at the entries, to prevent the Elephants 

 from returninp;. The hunters from without then make 

 a terrible noise by shouting, beating of tomtoms (a 

 kind of drum), firing blank-cartridges, &c. to urge 

 them on to the next inclosure. The Elephants, 

 finding themselves entrapped, scream and make other 

 noises ; and discovering no opening except the en- 

 trance to the next inclosure, they at length, but 

 not before tliey have many times traversed round 

 their present situation, following their leader, enter 

 it. The gate is instantly shut upon them, iires are 

 lighted, and the same discordant noises made as be- 

 fore, till they have passed through another gateway 

 into the last inclosure, where they are secured in a 

 similar manner. Being now completely surroanded 

 on all sides, and perceiving no outlet through vv-hich 

 they can escape, they appear desperate, and in 

 their fury advance frequently to the surrounding 

 ditch in order to break down the palisade, inflating 

 their trunks, and screaming out aloud : but where- 

 ver they make an attack, they arc opposed by light- 

 ed fires, and by the noise and triumphant shouts of 

 the hunters. The ditch is then filled with w;iter ; 

 and after a while they have recourse to it in order to 



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