214 IVORY AND THE ELEPHANT 



of these animals than any other of the Indian states. As 

 a proof of the large number of elephants still existing in 

 this particular region, it is related that when, in November, 

 1913, the Viceroy of India visited the State of Mysore, he 

 was entertained with an elephant drive on a large scale, 

 as a result of which one hundred and thirty elephants were 

 captured. Of these twenty-four were transported to Bom- 

 bay and were there duly invoiced at the American Consu- 

 late for exportation to the United States, where they were 

 destined to be used by enterprising circus managers for 

 the entertainment of the public. The prices realized ranged 

 from $166 for a baby elephant, only 3 ft. high, to $583 

 for a female elephant, 5 ft. 3 in. in height; the average price 

 was about $500, the whole of this consignment bringing in 

 $11,757.* 



The so-called "Kheddah plan" is the one in use in India 

 when entire herds of wild elephants are to be captured. The 

 term is derived from the keddah or enclosure, from six to 

 ten miles in circumference, into which the wild elephants 

 are driven, and about which is a fence of split bamboo, 

 put up after the animals have been induced to enter the 

 enclosure. Such an elephant hunt on a large scale often 

 requires the aid of as many as 370 men, and a considerable 

 number of tame elephants, one for every two of the wild 

 elephants to be secured, to carry the requisite provision 

 of fodder for the latter, and to lead them daily to a place 

 for drinking and bathing. The captured elephants are 

 allowed to remain in comparative freedom for some little 

 time in this improvised enclosure, so that they may have 

 time to accustom themselves gradually to the changed con- 

 ditions. When they are supposed to have become at least 

 partially reconciled to this modified loss of freedom they 



*Coiisul Henry D. Baker of Bombay, India, "Report on Ivory and Elephants in India," 

 June 8, 1914. 



