280 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
more interesting moment cannot be imagined. I am 
unable to tell you my feelings ; the mental excitement 
— the feverish glow of spirits — the rush and bounding 
of the blood from the heart to the very extremities, 
palpably felt, and impelling action by an irresistible 
physical impulse, all beyond the power of description. 
Everything was now secure. The beaters, pressing on 
the herd, hurried them forward with tremendous out- 
cries, and, in the course of twenty minutes, sixty-four 
elephants were securely lodged within the snare. The 
scene was truly awful; the whole number enclosed 
rushed simultaneously towards the stakes,' bellowing, 
roaring, shrieking, and manifesting every symptom of 
violent fury. The foremost being checked in their 
precipitate career, gave the shrill scream of alarm, 
and endeavoured to retreat, but it was too late. They 
had advanced into the toil, and there was no chance 
of escape. Blue-lights, rockets, muskets, and fire, 
were severally seen through the dusk, creating a con- 
fusion and uproar not to be described. 
Several young elephants had been rolled into the 
pits at the first rush. As it was now too late to 
proceed further in accomplishing the objects of the 
hunt, arrangements were made for securing the pri- 
soners during the night. In order the better to effect 
this, the whole enclosure was surrounded by natives, 
fires were lighted, and a constant watch was kept. 
Scarcely a minute elapsed without some attempt be- 
ing made by the captives to effect their escape ; and 
three separate charges were tried by the whole body 
upon the entrance of the snare, but they were success- 
fully repelled by the fires and musketeers, placed 
