Method op- catching "wild Elephants. 237 



the elephants to advance ; and as Toon as they are got within the new circle,, 

 the people clofe up, take their proper flations, and pafs the remaining part 

 of the day and right as before. In the morning the lame procefs is repeated, 

 and in this manner the herd advances flowly in that direction, where they 

 find themfelves leaft incommoded by the noife and clamour of the hunters, 

 feeding, .as they go along, upon branches of trees, leaves of bamboos, &c. 

 which come in their way. If they fufpected any fnare, they could eafily break 

 through the circle^ but this inofTeniive animal,' going merely in quell of 

 food, and not feeing any of the people who- furround him, and who are 

 concealed by the thick jungle, advances without fufpicion, and appears 

 only to avoid being pefcered by their noife and din. As fire is the thing 1 

 elephants feem moft afraid of in their wild itate, and will feldom venture 

 near it, the hunters always have a number of fires lighted and particularly 

 at nj°ht, to prevent the elephants coming too near, as^well as to cook their 

 victuals and k' ep them warm. The fehtinels fupply thefe fires with fuel, 

 efpecially green bamboos, which are generally at hand, -aid- which, by the 

 crackling and loud report' they make, together with the noife of the Watch^ 

 men, deter the elephants from coming near ; To that the herd generally re- 

 mains at a diftance near the centre of. the circle. Should they at any time 

 advance, the alarm is given, and all the people immediately make a noife and 

 ufe their rattles, to make them keep at a greater diftance. In this manner 

 they are gradually brought to the Keddsh, or place where they are to be fe- 

 cured. As the natives are extremely flow in their operations, they feldom 

 bring the herd above one circle in a day-, except on an emergency, when 

 thty exert themJelves and advance two circles. They have no tents or co^- 

 vering.but the thick woods, which during the day keep off the rays of the 

 fun ; and at night they fleep by the fires they have lighted, upon mats fpread- 

 on the ground, wrapt up in a piece of coarfe cloth. The feaibn is then Co 



