Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1851-06-26

Mr.. June had ihe greatest success 10 the
low lands in the henonhern part Of the island,i
near Anaraabpoera. The method OF CATH
ing elephants, as described by him, must be
d very exciting kind Of business. The first
step is 10 make kraal or pen. in some spo.
where the animals abound. This is con-
s.ructed of heavy posts set upright in the
ground, closely bound together with wi.hes,
and made firm by other posts resting them
on the outside, as stays. The kraaI forms
three sides Of square, having an aperture
ON the fourth for the entrance OF the ele-
plants, from each side Of which extends a
long palisade slanting outward like the
mouth Of funnel. When all is completed
the natives lay in wait I'LL a fine herd has
wandered near the opening Of the trap;
then surrounding them, they urge them for
ward with shouls and firing ofmuskets ill the
frightened animals rush through the entrance
and are safe within The kraal
Now comes the work Of catching and Sc
curing them, which would be difficult and
dangerous task, were il not for the assistance
rendered by tame elephants, trained for the
purpose. One Of these animals will gradu-
ally enlice one of the imprisoned herd 10 a
lli,,le distance from his fellows, and engage
his attention by gentle caress. He rubs
his ears, strokes his trunk softly, and num-
bles phrases of elephanline enbardnent,
until the susceptible beast is completely be-
guiled by these tokens Of affection. Pres.
emily second tame elephan; comes up on
The other side and repeats the process, ill
the most complete confluence is established.
Then, a. The right period, they dex,erousy
twine both their trunks around the trunk of
their victim, and hold him as in vice
These elephants wear collars around their
shoulders, TO which siou. ropes are fastened.
While the ,r,nk of the wild animal is held,
TWO or three natives are busy in fastening
these ropes 10 his hind legs, and he is thus
incapable of moving either forward or back
ward, excep, as his loving 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 ol
this lime, the tame elephants are brought up
again and after being secured, is taken down
TO stream and watered. He is approached
very cautiously a. first, bu. in The course ol
ten days or Two weeks becomes docie enough
TO be driven at large with the ssme beasts
The natives have another way of taking
them, but i, is not often praclised. The ele'
phant, like all gentlemen living in the 'ro'
pics, is ond Of ses,a during the heat of the
day. Occasionally he will res, his huge
bulk against some convenient Tree, and take
an hours doze with great satisfaction
Some of the Cingalese are daring enough
a, this time, 10 creep sleallhily through The
Jungle ill they reach his very feet. Net
wit6slanding his thick hide, the elephant Il
very sensitive to touch. The native, provi
ded with a rope, one end Of which is made
fast 10 Tree, touches very gently The hint
leg Of the animal, who lifting his foot tt
shake off the supposed fly, Instantly gives
iac opportunity for moose to be slipped un
der. The same process is repeated with th'
other foot, and the elephant wakes up anf
finds himself caught. Large numbers are
shot, principally by the British officers sta
toned ia Ceylon, who pppearIo enjoy sport
ing on such a gigantic scale. Acool heat
and sure aim is all that is required
sligh, hollow in the elephants forehead Jus
between and above his eyes, is penelrabl'
BY muskei ball, and single sho. is gene
; rally sufficient 10 bring him down.
The Ceylon elephants are divided int
two casses--the tuskdr, or tusked elephants
and the altar, who are destitute Of those aP
. pendages. The former are much more val
liable ,hun the latter, and are principal,
caugh, for the priests, TO be employed in IN
service Of the temples.
. Among the wild elephants one is occa
sionally found, who, from his mischievou
or unsocial disposition, is banished from IN
herd, and becomes sort OF oulcast. Thes
are called rogue elephants. Mr.. June SUE
ceeded in capturing one Of them, which CAV
!. him a great deal OF trouble before he wa
r. shipped a. Point de Gale, but which he no
considers the most valuable animal In h
Al collection. On one occasion, while IN kaI
n dy, he broke from the courtyard in whic
= he was confined during the night, and ail'
~ considerable search, was found demolishr
a plantation Of bananas. He also auemplC
;, 10 escape while on the road 10 Colombo, b
happening 10 cross field Of paddy whic
n had just been irrigated, he slhk 10 his knee
n and was captured.
70 Mr.. June attempted 10 cross the mounta
W chain east Of Kan1y, into the country Of Il
Veddahs, or aboriginal inhabitants OF Ce
v, Ion, bu, was obliged TO turn on account
the rough nature Of the country, which
is here primitive wilderness. ln addition
the almos, impenetrable forests and jungle
,h The mountains rise in line of sheer pref