Ill 
THE ELEPHANT 
97 
elephants were captured in the Garo Hills, 132 
being taken in one drive. It is difficult to believe 
that any district can continue to produce upon this 
wholesale scale, and it is probable that after a few 
years elephants will become scarce in the locality. 
Nevertheless there is a vast tract of forest extend¬ 
ing into Burmah, and the migratory habits of the 
elephant at certain seasons may continue the supply, 
especially if certain fruits or foliage attract them to 
the locality. 
This migratory instinct is beyond our powers of 
explanation in the case of either birds, beasts, or 
fishes. How they communicate, in order to organise 
the general departure, must remain a mystery. It is 
well known that in England, previous to the de¬ 
parture of the swallows, they may be seen sitting in 
great numbers upon the telegraph wires as though 
discussing the projected journey; in a few days 
after, there is not a swallow to be seen. 
I once, and only once, had an opportunity of 
seeing elephants that were either migrating, or had 
just arrived from a migration. This was between 
3° and 4° N. latitude in Africa, between Obbo and 
Far^jok. We were marching through an unin¬ 
habited country for about 30 miles, and in the 
midst of beautiful park-like scenery we came upon 
the magnificent sight of vast herds of elephants. 
These were scattered about the country in parties 
varying in numbers from ten to a hundred, while 
single bulls dotted the landscape with their majestic 
forms in all directions. In some places there were 
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