156 MAMMALIA, [Caar. V. 
CHAP. V. 
THE ELEPHANT. 
An Elephant Corral. 
So long as the elephants of Ceylon were merely required 
in small numbers for the pageantry of the native prin- 
ces, or the sacred processions of the Buddhist temples, 
their capture was effected either by the instrumentality 
of female decoys, or by the artifices and agility of the 
individuals and castes who devoted themselves to their 
pursuit and training. But after the arrival of the 
European conquerors of the island, and when it had be- 
come expedient to take advantage of the strength and 
intelligence of these creatures in clearing forests and 
making roads and other works, establishments were or- 
ganised on a great scale by the Portuguese and Dutch, 
and the supply of elephants kept up by periodical 
battues conducted at the cost of the government, on a 
plan similar to that adopted on the continent of India, 
when herds varying in number from twenty to one 
hundred and upwards are driven into concealed en- 
closures and secured. 
In both these processes, success is entirely dependent 
on the skill with which the captors turn to advantage 
the terror and inexperience of the wild elephant, since 
all attempts would be futile to subdue or confine by 
ordinary force an animal of such strength and sagacity.! 
1 The device of taking them by India: but in addition to the diffi- 
means of pitfalls still prevails in culty of providing against that 
