Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1840-10-10
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Na 4 9 e. Y.
ANCIEETMoDE OF CATCHING E

PRATS IN INDIA. i.
In a former number (paee 1857 a sha.t accoan
was given of the present mode o. cap,urins Gle.
phanls in India. The reader may perhaps no, b.
unwilling to compare il with The ancient way Of
taxing these huge animals, as we have transmit
ted to US in Arian's book on India. Arrian was
. Greek writer Of tie second c%entuary of our era
who derived his information from the memoirs
lett by A!exanders generals, and those drawn up
by other Greeks who visited India between The
time OF Alexander and the age Of the compiler.
"The Indians hunt other wild animals lust as
the Greeks do; but their nude Of taking the ele.
piiant is quite peculiar,a AS indeed the animal itself
resembles no other. Having picked out a level
piece ofgfound, open to the sun, they enclosed By
a ditch q circular space large enough for the Ell.
caDpment OF a considerable army. The width of
the ditch is about 80 feet, and the depth about "a.
The earth that Is dug out is heaped up on each
margin ofihe ditch, aud serves as a wall. la the
exterior wall thus formed they make excavations,
which serves as hiding places, from wbich, through
certain holes that are left for supplying light, they
watch Inc elephants as they approach and enter
tie enclosure. Then having placed three or four
very tame female elephants wi.kin tho enclosure,
they leave one entrance. which ii made nv biidse.
ing over a par, of ths ditch, and thai the elephants
may not have any suspicious, they threw a grea,
quantity Of earth and grass on the bridge 10 pre-.
ve.'t the animals from seeing what it really IT,
Having done this, the hunters hide themselves in
their holes. Now the wild elephants. never come
near Inhabited spots in the day time, bot when i,
Is night they ramble about 10 all directions, and |
iced IN herds, following as a leader the la,ges, and
boldes, of their company, just as cows follow the
bulls. When the elephants have come near The
enclosure, they discover the females both by their
noise and smell, and Fastening towards ire suot
they rsn riund the ditch in thcr hnd the bridge,
over which they al! Try 10 push in!o the enclosure.
he hun'sinen, on seeing the elephants within
the ditch, quickly take he briage.aown, while 9TH
els Of The party run to the neighboIing villages to
let he people know that the elephants are caught.
a large party now mount all their strongest tame
elephants. and ride s'aight to The enclosure, uhere
they wait Till the wild elephants are much weak
'aed Tor the want of food and water. When the
hunters thipk the elephants are sufficiently sub
tued, they set up the bridge again, and the tame
Elephants entering the place commence a Geree
;ontes. with the wild ones, which naturally ter.
inmates In favor Of the, tame animals. IS their
are quite exhausted by what they have
The riders now getting down from their !
lie the feet Of the wild ones, while they {,
re IN this helpless state, and urge the tame ami.
nails TO bea, them till they fat, down. The NEXT,
roeess Is to Pc, ropes fcurd their necks aud 10
houas them as they lie on the ground. To proven, :
he elephants, however, from throwing off their !
ldefs OF doing any other mischief, they make an :,
nc,sian with a sharp knife in the skin Of the neck
roand, and fit the rope iuio it, that the pain
ON the sore may make the animals keep their /.
eads steady. The elephants being thus compel !,
"a to remain quiet. and feeling tina. they are 4
abdaed, are led by a rope which is attached to the ;,
lme on.s. :,
.All the young elephants, and those that arc !.
OF worth having, The hunlsmen let 20. The :
are ,ssen to the villages, where they give J,
EN- greer reeds and grass; but at frs. they refuse !,
eat, bsifg quite d~ispirited and sorreafuI. The !
'd'ans in ae mean time stand round aud sndea. ,.
u to soo.hs them by singing, AID cy mbai. and ;.
u.m'" "