Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-07-10
umsls rush through the entrance and are safe

Now comes the work of catching and secur-
ing them, which would be difficult and dan
gerous task, were it not for the assistance rem
dered BY tame elephants, trained for the purpose.
One Of these animals will gradually entice one
Of the imprisoned herd tn liule distance from
his fellows, and engage his attention BY gen.
lie caress. He rubs his ears, strokes his trunk
softly, and mumbles phrases Of elephalaine en-
dearment, until the susceptible beast is com
pletely beguiled BY these tokens of affection.---
Presently a second tame elephant comes up on
the other side and repeats the process, till the
most complete confidence is established. Then,
at the right period, they dexieriously twine
both their trunks around the trunk Of the vic.
tim, and hold him as in vice. These ele-
plants wear collars around their shoulders, "a
which stout ropes are fastened. While the
trunk Of the wild animal is held, two or three
natives are busy in fastening these ropes to his
hind legs, and he is thus incapable of moving
either forward or backward, except as his low
! ing friends allow He is then taken and made
fast to tree, where he is suffered to remain
three or four days without food or drink Al
the end of this time, the tame elephants are
brought up again, and after being secured, he
| is taken down to a stream and wa:ered. He is
approached very cautiously at first, but in the
course of len days or two weeks becomes do.
cile enough to be driven at large with the tame
beasts.
The natives have another way of taking them,
but it is not often practiced. The elephant,
like all gentleman living in the tropics, is fond
Of a siesta during the heat of the day. ,dOcca.
sionally he will rest his huge bulk against some
convenient tree, and take an hours doze with
great satisfaction. Some of the Cingalese are
daring enough to creep s,eal,hily through the
jungle till they reach his very feet. No,wth-
standing his thick hide. the elephant is very
sensitive to touch. The native, provided with
a rope, the other end of which is made fast to
tree, touches very gently the hind leg of the
animal, who, lifting his foot to shake off the
supposed fly, instantly gives an opportunity for
a moose to be slipped under. The same pro-
cess is repeated with the other foot, and the ell.
ephant wakes up and finds himself caught
Large numbers are shot, principally by the
British officers stationed at Cey.on, who ap
pear to enjoy sporting On such gigantic scale
A cool head and sure aim are all that is re.
quired. A slight hollow in the elephants
forehead. just between and above his eyes, is
pene,rable by musker ball, and single sho,
is generally sufficient TO bring him down.
The Ceylon elephants are divided into two
classes-ihe tuskar, OF tusked elephants, and
the altar, who are destitute of those appendix
ges. The former are much more valuable than
the latter, aud are principally caught for the
priests, TO be employed in the service Of the
temples.
Among the wild elephants, one is OCCASION
ally found who, from his mischievous or unso-
cial disposition, is banished from the herd, and
becomes sort Of outcast. These are called
rogue elephants. Mr.. June succeeded in cap
turing one of them, which gave him erea,
deal of trouble before he was shipped al Poin,
de Gale, but which he now considers the most
valuable animal in his collection. On one oc.
casion, while in Kaudy, he broke from the
courtyard in which he was confined during The
night, and after considerable search he was
found demolishing a plantation of bananas
He also attempted to escape while on the road
to Columbo but happening 10 cross field ol
paddy which had just been irrigated, he sanl
to his knees and was captured. t.
Mr.. June attempted to cross the mountain
chain of Handy into the country of Veddahs
or aboriginal inhabitants of Ceylon, but wa.
obliged to return on account, Of the roughness
of the country, which is here primitive viii.
derness. In addition to the almost impenetra.
BILE forests and jungles, the mountains rise in .
line of sheer precipice many hundred feet in
height, and not TO be scaled without great diff
iculty and danger The Veddahs inhab
it the wilderness east of the mountaius-are
about on par with the Bushmen of Africa
They are divided into two classes, the village
and the forest Veddahs; the former of whorr
dwell in communities, and exhibit some fain
glimmering of humanity. The latter run wilt
in the jungles, snbsisiing on roots and plants
and climbing into the branches of trees to sleep
Mr.. June saw two Of these creatures, who hac
been captured BY the Cingalese, and describe.
them as being but little in advance Of The ou.
rang-outang. They are small in stature, theil
bodies are completely covered with hair, ane
they have the long arms of the simia tribe
Very little is known Of that part Of the islant
which they iuhabt.
Mr.. June represents the Singalese, who are
supposed to have originally emigrated from ihs
Malabar coast, as an amiable and inoffensivs
People. They are for the most part devotec
to the culture of the soil, which is exceedingl,
fertile. The cinnamon tree, which requires ,
moist warm climate, grows only in the sonlh
eastern part Of the island, and seems to thriy.
best in poor and 6inty soil. .t
The climate of Ceylon is mild and salubri
ons; the moonsoons, which blow alternatel,
from the Indian Sea and the Bay of Bengal
mitigate somewhat the severity Of the tropica
heats. rr0 -.r.r.s I' a-rT E =
Alter collecting their nine elephants at Poin
oe Galle, Messrs. June and Nul,er carried then
70 Inc Regatta on large lighter, and stnwe,
mem IN the hoid, which had heen prepared 70
@ .neir reception. Thousands of people frnm al
the surrounding country came dawn 10 the shor,
| To witness the nper,,,,r