, 1876-08-20
An ELEPEANT-HUNT.

SiUVO lof information tlat VIII secure suu coA-
vict the thief. without the money.
EN ELEPEANT-HUNT.
The Experience of y Pittsburger in Siam
4 Siamese Brealfast-Captur the White
Elephant.
Correspondence Fisssbarg Etentng Chronick-
u. S. STEAMER AsHuRLoT. BANG kok, SLAM,
May 10, 1876. The business which brought us
here being now about finished, we were begin
ming to think of leaving, when we got an invita-
tion that fairly startled us ..
Every year they have an elephant hunt, or
drive rather, and we were invited to attend one
about to take place To add additional cclat TO
the occasion, there w:s white elephant in the
drove, and that was OF course the cause Of great
rejoicing. Fortunately was one Of the lucky
oucs who could go. There were six of Us in all,
the Captain and i've OF our mess. For nearly q
year they had been collecting this drove from
all the distant provinces, driving them in a few
At time, and now they We're all collected at
from Bang Kok. Our invitation came from the
foreign minister, aud be did everything up for
us in style, sent Us l. steam LAUNCH, to tow us,
and do the cooking, etc, and what they call .
house boat, with house built over aaout half
Of it, and very comfortable, indeed We took
bedding and clothing, and that was all. Every
thing else was provided for US. The minister
also sent his Interpreter with us. He was 4
Portuguese, very pleasant fellow, VINO added
very much to our enjoyment.
We left the snip about daylight, and had q
most delightful trip up the river. The conn-
try is rather monotoaous,. being very fat, but
still there is quite cuou.,h variety to make it
interesting, the endless variety of tropical foli
age cunning down on the water, with occasional
breaks with room enough for temple Or little
pic and had breakfast on shure, and very good
breakfast it was. We took our own boys, but
they furnished cooks, china, grub, wines in
abundance and variety, and everything else
NECESSARY. The catt1c;here are regular butfalos,
aud every once and while Il great drove Of
tlie,n would rush down the bank into the water
and dash and splash in great glce. Another
pleasing thing We saw was murdcrer's head
stuck on q pole by the water, rs gentle re-
n1inder that you should not kill people. We
lad mishap or two, just enough to ndl yaric-
ty. Once our launch broke down, but another
one came along and picked US up.
About noon the King passed us. He was in
q large, handsome barge, towel by a small
steamer. About dark We got to tue summer
palace, Il handsome new building few miles
below Aynthia+
Here our launch oyertobkus, and we went on
In about fifteen minutes We broke down again,
but almost Immediately another launch came
up and took us On. The kiug had heard Of our
breaking down, and sent it after us in case it
should Happen again. Very thoughtful, wasn't
lnediately taken possession of By the foreign
ministers SOU, aud one OF his officers, and they
never left us while We we're there always
looking out, and anticipating our very, wish. [
never was SO well looked out for before in my
life. The foreign minister was not there him
self, but the e1-regent took us under his wing,
and kcpta fatherly lookout for us. We did
not know exactly how our meals were to be pro-
vided for us, but the first day settled all that.
About daylight, before any Of us were up, the
regent came alongside in a small boat to pay his
respects.
We received him in panjamas, but he didn't
seem to mind that, and LETT coffee for us. frhe
cotfec-pot was made Of gold.i We were tied up
alongside Of the bank, and about 9 o'clock
long procession Of his servants appeared, march
served in massive silver. The breakfast was
cooked in our style, and consisted Of dozen
courses, everything being Us nice as possible.
Lunch was prepared on board our launch, and
dinner came in the same swell style from the re-
gents. That was the daily routine, and very
pleasant we found it.
The first day was devoted to capturing the
white elephant, nothing else being Of sufficient
importance to touch OF the SAME day. The per-
forlnance vas to commence ut ], and We went
up there about IL to secure good place, but,
as usual VIC found ourselves we'll looked out
for. We were given splendid places, just below
and in front OF the King. A little before the
hour the herd was driven in from the stockade,
where they bad been confined, and queer
sight it was. They came On at very stdate
pace, headed BY tame elephant, aud surround
ed by about twenty other large tame elephants,
who had no difficulty ut all i'll Keeping the herd
together. Each tame elephant had two riders,
who seemed to have the most perfect control
over the beasts, jai'blng them playtully in the
head with sharp iron hook when they wanted
them to do anything. The drove was brought
down Immediately in front OF where we sat.
We we're about Is or ~ feet above them, and
the trained elephants, winch are USED III the
catching, were brought out The elephant was
taken by high noble, who is second lord OF the
elephants. Tne wise men had been consulted,
and the exact minute at which it was proper to
take the fellow ascertalned, anu all hands walt
ed patiently until the hlng gave the signal, anu
then he went Tor him There were ls5 ele-
plants IN the herd we counted them mtcr"ara),
and 1t seemed amose Impossible to PICK out the
one they wanted; but they spotted him instant
II, and had rope around Ills leG IN very short
time. The rider carries coil OF hide rope, IN
the end OF " Inch is loop which they carry On
tue end Of long bamboo. Ihey rush up behind
the ono they wish to catch stlck Tins long bamboo
down, aud, as he llts MS hinu leg to rush along,
slip the loop over It, and the framed elephant
instantly turns anu Walks away Win taut, SO
there Is no danger OF II s11pplng, anu thcn the
end IS thrown on ana allowed 10 arag.
IN INC case o1 1uil-gro"n eleptants tEree or
10uT ropes arc necessary. 10ef are Immensely