American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-05-23
ELEPHANT HUNTING IN CEYLoN.

tion of the manner in which the Cinga-
lese capture and tame elephants by
wholesale.
When it has been determined to have
an elephant hunt, men are sent into
the woods, as scouts, to discover q
space where the animals shall be found
in abundance. This done, and the
ground of operations duly selected, an
order is issued to all the inhabitants of
the district, to surround the forest with
fires. These fires are built on moyea-
bic platforms, raised four feet from the
ground. They must be kept alight du-
ring the hunt. They are placed at
first about one hundred PAGES apart.
On hunt witnessed by Rev. Peter
Cordiner, operations were begun thirty
miles from the snare in which the cle-
plants were finally mastered, and three
thousand men were employed for two
months in supporting the fires and
guarding the circle.
This circle is gradually but surely
made smaller. An advance of nearly
mile per day is made on every side.
AS the circle grows narrower, of course
the fires are brought closer together,
until at last they are but ten PAGES a.
part. AS the space within is decreas-
ed, the elephants become alarmed, and
redoubled vigilance is necessary to pre-
vent their escape.
The snare is funnel.shaped inclo-
sure, the small end of which opens into
another inclosure, which terminates fl
nally in narrow passage in which the
elephants are secured before being led
out, one by one, to the stables prepar-
ed for their reception. Across the
large funnel, not far from its mouth, q
barricade is erected, in which are four
openings sufficiently spacious to admit
an elephant.
The Enclosures are formed of stout
trees, set four feet deep in the ground,
leaning inward, and rising from sixteen
to twenty feet above the surface. They
are placed sixteen inches apart, and are
united at different distances by other
logs, which run across, and are lashed
to the uprights by means of plant
canes. Additional supports are rang
ed on the outside, to make the whole
secure against the assaults of the ele-
plants. Boughs ftrees are also thrown
over the palisades, that the beasts may
not too distinctly see the slightness of
the obstacles placed between themselves
and liberty.
Suppose, now, that two months have
elapsed since the commencement of the
hunt. The circle has been gradually
narrowed, till now the half-frantic ele-
plants within are surrounded by a
closely-connected line of torches and
fires, while crowds Of natives drive the
vast herd toward tho opening in the
palisades, amid firing of muskets, rock.
cts, and squibs. Trampling down
brushwood, and breaking trees where
they stand in their course, the animals
at last enter the enclosure. They ap-
proach the barricade which forms the
entrance, and, intimidated by the re-
doubled shouting and firing, crowd
through the gates. No sooner has the
last elephant entered, than the natives
hasten to close these gates with heavy
posts and logs previously prepared for
this purpose, aiming to make this part
even stronger than the adjacent.
!. AS soon as the four outer gates are
closed, natives enter through spaces
left between the palisades, and form a
line with fires and torches in the rear
of the elephants, thus urging them on
toward the small pale. When this is
filled, those left in the outer place are
allowed little quiet. A close watch
is, however, kept, that none may break
through the paling, an accident which
sometimes happens, Notwithstanding
their vigilance.
] Crowded together in narrow space,
treading on each other, without room
to move, and with scarcely space to
breathe, the situation Of the elephants
is painful in the extreme, and their
roars Of rage and more plaintive notes
of suffering excite the sympathy Of the
bcholder. Quite frequently the small.
er Of tho animals are trodden under
foot and perish; and not seldom even
] grown elephants fall down from ex-
haustion, and arc killed by the tread
of their half.crazed companions.
The troop makes constant efforts to
escape. But the entire pale is sur.
rounded by fires and torches, and num-
bers of natives are always ready to re-.
pei any attack UPON the palisades. All
movement in the small pale is purpose
ly rendered more difficult by leading
through the ground small stream of
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