96 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAVS 
CHAP. 
Although the strength of an elephant is pro¬ 
digious whenever it is fully exerted, it is seldom that 
the animal can be induced to exhibit the maximum 
force which it possesses. A rush of a herd of 
elephants with a determined will against the en¬ 
closure of palisades used for their capture would 
probably break through the barrier, but they do not 
appear to know their strength, or to act together. 
This want of cohesion is a sufficient proof that in a 
wild state they are not so sagacious as they have 
been considered. I do not describe the kraal or 
keddah, which is so well known by frequent descrip¬ 
tions as the most ancient and practical method of 
capturing wild elephants; but although in Ceylon 
the kraal has been used from time immemorial, the 
Singhalese are certainly behind the age as compared 
with the great keddah establishments of India. In 
the latter country there is a ditch inside the palisaded 
enclosure, which prevents the elephants from exert¬ 
ing their force against the structure ; in Ceylon this 
precaution is neglected, and the elephants have 
frequently effected a breach in the palisade. In 
Ceylon all the old elephants captured within the 
kraal or keddah are considered worthless, and only 
those of scarcely full growth are valued ; in India 
all elephants irrespective of their age are valued, 
and the older animals are as easily domesticated as 
the young. 
The keddah establishment at Dacca is the largest 
in India, and during the last season, under the 
superintendence of Mr. G. P. Sanderson, 404 
