ever they turn, they find themselves opposed by burning fires, or bundles of reeds and dried grass, which are thrust through the openings of the palisades, except towards the entrance of the second inclosure. After traversing the first inclosure, and finding no chance of escaping but through the gate> way into the next inclosure, the leader enters, and the rest follow; the gate is instantly shut, by people who are stationed on a small scaffold immediately above it, and strongly barricaded; fires are lighted, and the same discordant din made and continued, till the herd has passed through another gateway into the last inclosure, the gate of which is secured in the same manner as the former was. The elephants being now completely surrounded on all sides, and perceiving no outlet through which they can escape, appear desperate, and in their fury advance frequently to the ditch, in order to break down the palisades, inflating their trunks, screaming louder and shriller than any trumpet, sometimes grumbling like the hollow murmur of distant thunder, but whereever they make an attack they are opposed by lighted fires, and by the noise and triumphant shouts of the hunters. As they must remain some time in this inclosure, care is always taken to have part of the ditch filled with water, which is supplied by a small stream, either natural, or conducted through an artificial channel from some neighbouring reservoir. The elephants have recourse to this water to quench their thirst after their fatigues, by sucking the water into their trunks, and then squirting it over every part of their bodies. While they remain in this inclosure they continue sulky, and seem to meditate their escape; but the hunters build huts around them close to the palisade, watchmen are placed, and every precaution used to prevent their breaking through. "When the herd has continued a few days in the keddah, the door of the outlet is opened, into which some one of the elephants is enticed to enter, by having food thrown first before, and then gradually further on into the passage till the elephant has advanced far enough to admit of the gates being shut. Above this wicker gate two men are stationed on a small scaffold, who throw down the food. When the elephant has passed beyond the door, they give the signal to a man, who, from without, shuts it by pulling a string, and they secure it by throwing two bars that stood perpendicular on each side, the one across the other, thus x, and then two similar bars are thrown across each other behind the door next to the keddah, so that the door is in the centre. For further security, horizontal bars are pushed across the outlet, through the openings of the palisades, both before and behind those crosses, to prevent the possibility of the doors being broken. The outlet is so narrow, that a large elephant cannot turn in it; but as soon as he hears the noise that is made in shutting the gate, he retreats backwards, and endeavours to force it; being now secured in the manner already noticed, his efforts are unavailing. Finding his retreat thus cut off, he advances and exerts his utmost force to break down the bars, which were previously put across a little farther on in the outlet, by running against them, screaming and roaring, and battering them like a ram, by repeated blows of his head, retreating and advancing with the utmost fury* In this confinement the elephant exhausts himself with fatigue. Strong ropes with nooses are spread about him; and as soon as he puts a foot within the snare, he is bound to the palisade. When all his feet * Asiatic Transactions, vol. iii. Elephant harnessed in a keddah. From an original drawing, by Mr. Corse Scott, engraved in Brewster's Encyclopædia. have thus been made fast, his hind legs are tied together; his body is then surrounded in various directions with powerful ropes, which are secured so as to form a complete harness. A couple of large cables, with running nooses, are lastly put round his neck, and are tied to the ropes on each side. The preparations being complete, the cables are made fast. to two tame elephants. The heavy door at the end of the passage is opened, the ropes that tied his legs to the palisades are loosened, and he is conducted by his powerful brothers to an open spot, where he is made fast, in a similar way, between two trees. When his subjugated brethren leave him, to conduct another to his place of captivity, his rage becomes fearful. He roars in an agony of despair; he tramples the food which is given him under his feet. He sometimes falls a victim to his paroxysm of fury; but more commonly the cravings of hunger induce him to eat, and he gradually yields to the power of gentle discipline. |