54 ° 
UNGULATES. 
trouble. In the middle of the circle the construction of the kedda is then pushed 
on apace. This is built in a secluded spot, and is formed of massive posts of about 
twelve feet high, supported by props, and arranged in a circle of from twenty to 
fifty yards in diameter, with an entrance of about four yards in width. From the 
entrance proceed two diverging lines of palisades, which at their terminations, a 
hundred yards or so from the gate, are about fifty yards asunder. When all the 
arrangements are complete, the herd is driven down the funnel-shaped entrance, 
and when within the kedda itself imprisoned by dropping a kind of portcullis at 
the gate. After a time the process of securing the various members of the herd 
commences; for which purpose tame elephants, each carrying a mahout on its neck 
and a rope-tier behind are employed. These tame elephants separate the wild ones 
INDIAN ELEPHANT KNEELING. 
from their companions one by one, when the hind-legs of the captives are tied 
together with ropes. Each captive then has a rope placed round its neck, and 
another round one hind-leg ; after which it is led out and secured to a tree in the 
neighbouring forest, where it remains until sufficiently tamed to undergo further 
treatment. 
As the finest tuskers are seldom caught in the keddas, another plan is adopted 
for their capture. A party of four or five trained female elephants, with their 
mahouts (who partially conceal themselves under blankets), proceed to the resorts 
of a solitary wild tusker; and gradually approach him by grazing in an uncon¬ 
cerned manner, unless the male saves them this trouble by coming up of his own 
accord. Having established an acquaintance, the females remain constantly with 
the male until he is thoroughly tired out and in need of sleep, which may not take 
place for two or three days; during which time the mahouts have been relieved 
