The Shasta courier., 1865-04-08
under the impression that hiding their
lights under bushels formed no part of their

under the impression that hiding their
lights under bushels formed no part of their
duty.
The first feat to be performed was the bait
ing of an elephant, which, being in a state
IF must," is naturally excessively savage
and bloodthirsty. He was fastened securely
within an arch at one side of the enclosure
with chains attached to all four legs; and
now to loose them, which his keeper did
very scientifically, first bis forelegs, and
then the hind ones, which operation seemed
to relieve him immensvely, for he gave hi H.
self good stretch, very much in the same
manner as a dog does after sleep and
then walked calmly and uuconcernedly into
the middle of the arena. The poor beast
seemed to be in wretched condition, and
had Undoubtedly, been starved for the occa-
sion let US hope he had good dinner after
he had played his part. And then he was
surrounded by his tormentors, yelling at
him, running up close to him, and shaking
cloths in his face, and then getting away
again as quickly as possible, as the beast
turned upon them to pursue them, which
it was prevented doing to any extent by one
man taking the others place, and, in turn,
dyertng his attention This little game
went on for about a quarter of an hour with
to get rather tired of it ALL and to think it
% do, (" when suddenly a large native squb
which burns with a great noise for about one
minute. was lighted close to his nose, and
went off with a capital roar. This seem
ed to puzzle him rather, and at last he un-
doubtedly began to get very angry for now
three or four squbs were going on at once
and the great and apparently unwieldy brute
70 oh hO, nd trx-I in
make powder of some of his tormentors.-
After two or three minutes of this whilst he
was apparently doing his best to catch one
man who was running away from him as
fast as he could, he. suddenly stopped like a
shot, and turning right round with swift
ness almost Incredible, came right on anoth
er who was hopping gaily after HIM ana
evidently not expecting this sudden attack.
BY great exercise of activity, however,
before the elephant was actually upon MIN
he was just able to turn himself and start
off at an angle; short, however, as was tne
distance between the pursuer and pursued,
the elephant managed to cut off the angle,
and |, and most of the spectators, l fancy,
thought it was undeniably all UP with him.
In ten wards or so the elephant raised his
trunk for very palpable purpose, the man
at that time being about two or three yards IN
the front of him, and then down 1t came with
a swoop, and Just brushed the mans back.
who again doubled like hare, and this time
the elephant disappointed in his stroke, left
him, and very soon had his attention dis
tracted by others. They now all drew off
from him and left the animal to compose
himself for a few minutes, previous to catch
ing him again. For this purpose some men
appeared, carrying four immense pincer-like
contrivances, one of which the keeper took
and approached from behind the elephant,
who was now standing still. whilst some of
the athletes distracted his attention in front
by waving cloths and brandishing spears
Noiselessly as cat went the keeper to with
in about three yards of his victim, then with
a sudden rush andSa bound you saw him
stretch out his hands. heard click and the
next moment master keeper was ten yards off,
and the elephant was standing on three legs,
evidently undergoing the most acute piin.
The meaning of all this is, that the keeper
has fastened one of the pairs of pincers on to
the bottom of the leg of the elephant, where
they are extremely sensitive; the instruments
having very sharp points, penetrate the flesh,
as they close with a strong spring, which
keeps them in that position, and the pain
caused by this renders the elephant, in a
short time, so tame again that be is easily
secured, and marched out limping on three
| legs and loaded with chains, like the veriest
felon that ever underwent penal servitude.
The nearer escape man has from being
caught and trodden on by the elephant. the
greater the sport is supposed to be, and the
hero OF the day always receives plenty of
baksheesh, believe, from the guicowar. The
last time. | hear, that there was an ele
phant1 bait, the elephant was so nearly Sc
securing his victim that he had actually got
his trunk round him, when by some mira
culous process, which only nigger could
have succeeded in, the man managed to wrig-
gle himself out through the trunk and escaped,
which part so pleased the royal potentate
that --he presented him on the spot with a
small village as a compensation for so near
ly losing his life r. in London Field