Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-11-12
Gbc Auiloerucss.
From Chambers Pocket Miscellany.
ELEPHANT KRAAL IN CEYL0N,

One hot morning in November, 18-,
we set of from Handy, for the purpose of
seeing that interesting sight, an elephant!
kraal, which was TO take place the next
day, eighteen miles distant. Our resting
place, however, was eight miles beyond ;
and although in this country twenty-six
miles would be no great ride for lady,
yet in tropical climate it was rather an
undertaking. However, must either have
done so, or given up what I was most de-
sirous to witness, as we could not secure
any coolies, or palanquin-bearers, at that
time in Handy, they being all engaged to
carry down tents, &C., to the kraal, for the
general and his party. The day was for
tunately rather cloudy, and although the
heat was very great, we had not the direct
power of the sun TO contend with. We
did not reach Kornegalle till six in the
evening, as we rested halfway for some
hours, during the hottest part of the day.
| was dreadfuly tired, SO was glad to find
that the kraal was not to take place the
next day, but on the one after. 1t was a
very pretty as well as an amusing ride (;
the whole country seemed in motion : ele-
phant-carts and bullock -bandies, loaded
with furniture and eatabes, on their way
to Cospeletic Orji, where several tents
were pitched; and for some miles near the
intended scene of action, the remains oi
fires, broken branches trees, &C., gave il
the appearance Of having recently been q
gypsy cncampment.
On the morning of the kraal, our party
started at daylight, some on horseback
and the rest in an elephant-caIt, in which
we got over the ground pretty well, with
out he pace being unpleasant. The greater
part Of the gentlemen arrived at Cospellie
the day before, as il was intended TO drv,
the elephants into the enclosure in The
evening, and take them prisoners next day
which would have been done easily, as il
the afternoon the nerd had come very nea
! the entrance. With respect to the kraal
it was nothing more than an enclosure
about 200 yards long, and nearly square
in form, made with very strong posts, o
rather, small trees, stuck in the ground
and bound together The inside was 4
thick jungle, with large trees in it, and tht
outside the same, excepting where it wa
cleared sufficiently TO admit Of the fenc'
and path round it. The entrance wa
about ten feet wide, with deep holes read,
for the stakes to be driven in, the momen
the poor brutes were entrapped. 1t wa
covered by few green boughs, and is gen
orally so contrived as to be in track thu
elephants are in the habit of following.
saw several Of these paths, and very curl
Gus they were: some appeared like covered
archways, where the jungle was high, an'
were so thick, that ! could think nothin!
but an elephant could make its way through
Kraals are only constructed in parts of th
country frequented by elephants, and whe
it is known that there is a herd in III
neighborhood. AS soon as the enclusur
is finished, the elephants are surrounde
by crowd OF people, who form circl
from the entrance OF the kraa, and encos
them within it. This circle of course
very large and varies according to circum
stances in this instance, when we arrived
the animals were enclosed IN a circle {
about two miles. Whenever they aitemI
10 break through, they are driven back b
the people, who shout and yell with a
their might, beat the tom-toms, discharg
guns, and at night fires are lighted at ever
ten or twelve yards distance round II
circle, and this always frightens the ell
plants. The natives are most anxious
have them destroyed, as they do muc
mischief, particularly 10 their paddy-feld'
90 that al all the kraals the natives in hu
dreds volunteer their services, which
course are gladly accepted. Governme
gives premium of f3 for every elepha
captured.
A very large tree at one end Of the e.
closure was selected for the spectators, {