Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1851-08-19
Catchln g Elephants.

Mr.! June, who arrived some time
since in ! few York, from Ceylon, with
a cargo Of elephants, describes to the
Tribune the mode of catching them:
Mr.. June had the greatest success
in the low lands in the northern part
of the island, near Anarajahpoora.-
The method of catching elephants, as
described by him, must be a very ex-
citing kind of, business. The first
step is to make kraal or pen, in some
spot where the animals abound. This
is constr acted on heavy posts, set
upright b the ground, closely bound
together with withes, and made firm
by other posts resting against them
on the outside as stays. The kraal
forms thre ree sides Of square, having
an aperture on the fourth for the en-
ira nee of the elephants, 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 till fine herd
has wandered near the opening of
the trap; then, surrounding them,
they urge them forward with shouts
and firing of muskets, till the fright
ened animals rush through the en-
trance and are safe within the kraal
Now comes the work Of catching
and securing them, which would be a
difficult and dangerous task, were it
not for the assistance rendered by
tame elephants, trained for the pur-
Epose. One of these animals will
gradually entice one of the impris-
oned herd to little distance from
his fellows, and engage his attention
by a gentle caress. He rubs his. ears,
strokes his trunk softly, and num-
bles phrases of elephantine endear-.
ment, until the susceptible beast is
completely beguiled by these tokens
of affection. Presently, a second
tame elephant comes up on the other
side and repeats the process, till the
M most complete confidence is estab-
h$hed. Then, at the right period,
they dexterously twine both their
IL runks around tn E trunk of their VIC
tim, and hold him asin vice. These
elephants wear girths around their
shoulders, to which stout ropes are
fastened. While the trunk Of the
wild animal is held, two or three ma
tives are busy in fastening these
ropes to his hind legs, and he is thus
incapable of moving either forward
or backward, except as his loving
friends allow. He is then taken and
made fast to a tree, where he is sui
fered to remain three or four days
without food or drink. At the end
Of this time, the tame elephants are
brought up again, and after being
secured, he is taken down to stream
and watered. He is approached very
cautiously at first, but in the course
of ten days or two weeks becomes
docile enough to be driven at large
with the tame beasts.
The natives have another way of
taking them, but it is not often prac-
ticed. The elephant, like all gentle
men of the tropics, is fond of siesta
during the heat of the day. Occa-
sionalIy, he will rest his huge bulk
against some convenient tree, and
take an hours doze with great satis-l
faction. Some of the Cingalese are
daring enough, at this time, to creep
stealthily through the jungle till
they reach his very feet. Notwith-
standing his thick k hide, the elephant
is very sensitive to the touch. The
native, provided with a rope, the 9th
er end Of which is fastened to a tree,
touches very gently on 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 slippc ed under The same process
is repeated with the other foot, and
the elephant wakes up and finds him
self caught. Large numbers are
shot, principally by the British efh-
GERS static ned in Ceylon, who appear
to enjoy sporting in such gigantic
scale. a cool head and 'sure aim
are all that is required. A slight
hollow in the elephants forehead,
|iust between and above his eyes, is
penetrated by musket ball, and a
single shot is generally sufficient to
bringhim down,