Chap. V.] 
THE ELEPHANT. 
173 
supports, which grasp the tie beams, and prevent the 
work from being driven outward by the rush of the wild 
elephants. 
On the occasion I am now attempting to describe, 
the space thus enclosed was about 500 feet in length 
by 250 wide. At one end an entrance was left open, 
fitted with sliding bars, so prepared as to be capable 
of being instantly shut; — and from each angle of 
the end by which the elephants were to approach, 
two lines of the same strong fencing were continued, 
and cautiously concealed by the trees ; so that if, in- 
stead of entering by the open passage, the herd should 
swerve to right, or left, they would find themselves 
suddenly stopped and forced to retrace their course to 
the gate. 
The preparations were completed by placing a stage 
for the Governor's party on a group of the nearest trees 
looking down into the enclosure, so that a view could 
be had of the entire proceeding, from the entrance of 
the herd, to the leading out of the captive elephants. 
It is hardly necessary to observe that the structure here 
described, massive as it is, would be entirely ineffectual 
to resist the shock, if assaulted by the full force of an 
enraged elephant ; and accidents have sometimes hap- 
pened by the breaking through of the herd; but 
reliance is placed not so much on the resistance of the 
stockade as on the timidity of the captives and their 
unconsciousness of their own strength, coupled with the 
daring of their captors and their devices for ensuring 
submission. 
The corral being prepared, the beaters address them- 
selves to drive in the elephants. For this purpose 
it is often necessary to fetch a circuit of many miles in 
