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 



