Chap. V.] 



THE ELEPHANT. 



175 



circle of about two miles, within the area of which the 

 herd is detained to await the signal for the final drive. 



Two months had been spent in these preliminaries, 

 and the preparations had been thus far completed, on 

 the day when we arrived and took our places on the 

 stage erected for us, overlooking the entrance to the 

 corral. Close beneath us a group of tame elephants 

 sent by the temples and the chiefs to assist in securing 

 the wild ones, were picketed in the shade, and lazily 

 fanning themselves with leaves. Three distinct herds, 

 whose united numbers were variously represented at 

 from forty to fifty elephants, were enclosed, and were 

 at that moment concealed in the jungle within a short 

 distance of the stockade. Not a sound was permitted 

 to be made, each person spoke to his neighbour in 

 whispers, and such was the silence observed by the mul- 

 titude of the watchers at their posts, that occasionally 

 we could hear the rustling of the branches as some of 

 the elephants stripped off a leaf. 



Suddenly the signal was made, and the stillness of 

 the forest was broken by the shouts of the guard, the 

 rolling of the drums and tom-toms, and the discharge 

 of muskets ; and beginning at the most distant side of 

 the area, the elephants were urged forward at a rapid 

 pace towards the entrance into the corral. 



The watchers along the line kept silence only till the 

 herd had passed them, and then joining the cry in their 

 rear they drove them onward with redoubled shouts and 

 noises. The tumult increased as the terrified rout drew 

 near, swelling now on one side now on the other, as the 

 herd in their panic dashed from point to point in their 

 endeavours to force the line, but they were instantly 

 driven back by screams, muskets, and drums. 



