MAMMALIA. 



[Chap. V. 



order to surround a sufficient number, and the caution 

 to be observed involves patience and delay ; as it is 

 essential to avoid alarming the elephants, which might 

 otherwise escape. Their disposition being essentially 

 peaceful, and their only impulse to browse in solitude 

 and security, they withdraw instinctively before the 

 slightest intrusion, and advantage is taken of this 

 timidity and love of seclusion to cause only just such 

 an amount of disturbance as will induce them to re- 

 turn slowly in the direction which it is desired they 

 should take. Several herds are by this means concen- 

 trated within such an area as will admit of their being 

 completely surrounded by the watchers ; and day after 

 day, by degrees, they are moved gradually onwards to 

 the immediate confines of the corral. When their 

 suspicions become awakened and they exhibit restlessness 

 and alarm, bolder measures are adopted for preventing 

 their escape. Fires are kept burning at ten paces apart, 

 night and day, along the circumference of the area 

 within which they are detained ; a corps of from two to 

 three thousand beaters is completed, and pathways are 

 carefully cleared through the jungle so as to keep open 

 a communication along the entire circuit. The head- 

 men keep up a constant patrol, to see that their followers 

 are alert at their posts, since neglect at any one spot 

 might permit the escape of the herd, and undo in a 

 moment the vigilance of weeks. By this means any 

 attempt of the elephants to break away is generally 

 checked, and on any point threatened a sufficient force 

 can be promptly assembled to drive them back. At 

 last the elephants are forced onwards so close to the 

 enclosure, that the investing cordon is united at either 

 end with the wings of the corral, the whole forming a 



