MODES OF CATCHING ELEPHANTS. 
101 
They dig a deep ditch in the path which the wild 
elephant usually passes, and cover it with grass. 
When he comes near the pitfall, the people who are 
in ambush make a great noise, from the dread of 
which the elephant precipitates himself into the exca- 
vation: here, being kept short of provisions, he is 
tamed by degrees. Another method is what they call 
Barserakh. They enclose with a ditch the place 
where the wild elephants usually assemble at a par- 
ticular season, leaving only one entrance, to which 
they fix a door with ropes in such a manner that, upon 
slipping the ropes, it shuts fast. Next they scatter 
food in and about the enclosure, which entices the 
elephants to enter, when the people come out of their 
hiding-place, slip the ropes and shut the door. Some- 
times elephants in their rage attempt to break open the 
door, when the people light fires and make a noise, 
during which time the elephants keep running about 
till their strength is quite exhausted. The tame 
elephants are fastened round the enclosure, and the 
wild ones are kept short of food until they become 
docile. These were the old ways of taking elephants ; 
but his Majesty has invented a new method. A herd 
of male elephants are fastened to a spot in the form of 
a circle, and the females are brought into sight in 
another quarter, and men making a shout on all sides, 
the wild elephants run together in order to join the 
others. Upon this the female elephants, who are 
trained to the practice, enter the enclosure which is 
constructed for this purpose. A number of wild ele- 
phants follow them and are taken without trouble.”* 
k 3 
Ayeen Akberry, p. 297. 
