Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-05-09
ANELEPHANT KRAALI CEYLON.
IN uonor of the Duke of Ed,nburgh.s

In Honor of the Duke Of EdInburgh.s
Soon after the news of he Princes
visit arrived, the natives reported
that there was large herd OF ele
phants near Avishavella The local
i;y having been found suitable, and
a convenient distance from Columbo,
the capital, preparations were made
by enclosing the herd with a Gordon
of several hundred natives, SO as to
keep the ANIMALS from leaving the
neigh borhood, and kraal was con-
structed. This word, however derly-
ed, means simply inclosure, and CON
sists of very strong stockade or pal
isade, the posts forming 1t beng
trees of considerable dimensions. The
Jungle within and without is LETT un-
disturbed, so that nothing may be
seen to excite the suspicion OF the
elephants.
His Royal Highness took up his
position ON lofty crag, which stood
up almost perpendicular several hun
dred feet above the entrance TO the
narrow valley across which was the
kraal-an inclosure of perhaps 400
yards long by 800 yards wide, the
longer faces running parallel to the
direction of the valley, and about
halfway up the steep sides; the short
er faces crossed the ravIne, and III the
one nearest our position there was a
narrow entrance Tor the elephants.
From the extremitIes of this face
We're projecting arms OF the pallsade,
forming Il sort of funnel, down which
it was the object to drive the ele-
phants-but the whole thing was so
concealed by the foliage as to be dlt-
tcult to make out. .l 60
We took our place III silence, so
as not to alarm the elephants, and
soon the shouts of the natives from
the distant hills were heard, and we
could make out the smoke of the
line of fires with which the herd was
enclosed. Gradually the natives
grew closer, the shouts sounded
louder, and the firing of muskets re
doubled and became regular file-tir-
ing. Now the distant foliage is agi-
taIed; large black objects are seen
moving, and the great herd of ele-
phants1s heard crashing through the
jungle down the opposite hill Now
their dark forms can be seen more
clearly. How many? Ten-t~ enty
-thirty-more! The smaller trees
give way before them; they are ap-
preaching the funnel leading to the
kraal. Suddenly the leaders stop,
the whole turn round and charge
wildly back on the gradually con
tracing Gordon of natives; but they
hold their ground with good pluck,
and the elephants turn again when
almost touching the spear-points.
The yells, the firing from the natives
became deafening, again and again
the elephants turn and charge with
increasing determination. Mr.. s.,
the Government Agent of the Prov
ince, and director of proceedings,
quits the Dukes side, runs down the
hill, and places himself in the centre
of the line of natives, with a memo
rable white umbrella in his hand,
which he opens and shuts i'll the
faces of the desperate animals. The
natives are inspired with fresh cour-
age, the line gradually contracts, the
elephants stilllview the opening of
kraal with suspicion; at last a big
fellow enters and the others follow,
the natives run up and secure the
bars, and their work is done. Thir-
ty-one large elephants and three
small ones have entered. We now
proceed down to the kraal, and are
fortunate enough to obtain admis-
sion to the Dukes stand. This was
erected nearly in the center, sup
ported on stumps and trees cut down
TO height of about>t wenty five feet
and left standing. 1t was T-shaped,
the top or cross part forming a com
modious bungalow, with open sides,
and handsomely furnished with
chairs, ETC.; the long part of the L
being a sort of wide bridge; that
formed the approach from the en-
trance through the palisade which
ran along the steep slope of the ra-
vine, This bridge was also rooted
over, and enabled a large number of
spectators to witness the operations
from it. 1t must have resembled
those ancient pile buildings lately
found in the Swiss lakes. The tame
elephants, with their mahouts on
their necks, and wearing a sort of
harness, now defile past the royal
stand. 1t is to, late in the day to
commence noosing the wild elephants
and the tame ones are employed in
clearing the jungle around the stand,
so as to leave an open space to ena-
bic us to see the operations of the
next day. 1t was a most curious
and interesting sight to see these sa-
gaclous brutes using their great
strength as directed by their mahots.
Their mode of operating was to press
their heads against a good sized tree
and as 1t bent toward to ground, to
place their foot upon 1t, leveling it
fiat; then, placing their proboseis un-
der it as it lay horizontal, to lift it
out Of the way, sometimes with
jerk pitching it from them. In
short time they had a clearance for a
considerable distance around the
stand, leaving only some of the lar
ger ones standing. ,.
1t being now late in the afternoon.
we were all glad to move toward our
bungalows to seek dinner and repose
The natives kept watch and ward
outside the kraal, and with loud
shOnts driving the elephants toward
the cleared space in front of the
stand, where eight tame elephants
were drawn up, with their mahouts
carrying spears. Behind one of
them sat Lord c., a wild young
midshlpman, ready far any danger
Gus fun. The wild ones now appear
breaking their way through the Jun
gle, the smaller trees going down be-
fore them like grass. With consid-
1 Il