HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 173 



are obliged every year to fend into the forefts, and ufe 

 various methods to procure frefh fupplies. 



The manner of taking, taming, and rendering thefe 

 animals fubmiffive, is curious, and well deferves a place 

 in the hiftory of the Elephant. In the midft of a foreft 

 abounding with Elephants, a large piece of ground is 

 marked out, and furrounded with ftrong palifades, inter- 

 woven with branches of trees : One end of the inclofure 

 is narrow ; from which it widens gradually, fo as to take 

 in a great extent of country. Several thoufand men are 

 employed upon the occafion, who place themfelves in 

 fuch a manner as to prevent the wild Elephants from 

 making their efcape : They kindle large fires at certain 

 diftances, and make a dreadful noife with drums and va- 

 rious kinds of difcordant inftruments, calculated for the 

 purpofe of (tunning and terrifying the poor animals ; 

 whilft another party, confifting of fome thoufands, with 

 the affiftance of tame female Elephants, trained for the 

 purpofe, drive the wild Elephants flowly towards the 

 great opening of the inclofure, the whole train of hun- 

 ters clofing in after them, fhouting, and making a great 

 noife, till they are driven by infenfible degrees into the 

 narrow part of the inclofure, through which there is an 

 opening into a fmaller fpace, ftrongly fenced in, and 

 guarded on all fides. As foon as one of the Elephants 

 enters this ftrait, a ftrong bar clofes the parTage from be- 

 hind, and he finds himfelf completely environed. On 

 the top of this narrow parTage fome of the huntfmen 

 ftand with goads in their hands, urging the creature for- 

 ward to the end of the parTage, where there is an open- 

 ing juft wide enough to let him pafs. He is now re- 

 ceived into the cuftody of two females, who ftand on 

 each fide of him, and prefs him into the fervice : If he 



