, 1877-09-21
Elephant Trapping in CeylOn.

The elephant, in Ceylon, is, In its wild
state, marauder, the dread of the cult
vator. 1t is necessary to thin the herds
out by capture, either to tame or to kill
This leads to grand hunt every year, in
the dull season, when the rice fields,
rapidly advancing to harvest, enable
numbers of the peasantry to be drawn
off. S
At the appointed time vast numbers
gather together TO put up stockades, cut
through the jungle, in some part much
frequented by the animals.
The corral includes stream, and is
not cleared; trees and bushes are left in
their natural state. The fence of the corral
is made of trees ten or twelve inches in
diameter, sunk three feet in the ground,
lashsd together by transverse beams, and
supported by props. A corral will be
five hundred feet long by two hundred
and fifty broad. The corral completed,
the natives spread around in vast cir
Gle, and begin cautiously narrowing in,
keeping close watch, and building fires
at very short intervals, the elephants al
ways retreating from fire.
AT sunset Says an eye-witness) the
scene was Of extraordinary interest; the
low fires, which had apparently only
smoldered in the sunlight, assumed their
ruddy glow amidst the darkness, and
threw their tinge over the groups col
lected around them, while the smoke
rose 10 eddies through the rich foliage of
the trees. The crowds of spectators
maintained profound silence, and not a
sound was perceptible beyond the hum
of an insect. On sudden the stiffness
was broken by the roll of a drum, fol-
lowed by discharge of musketry. This
was the signal for the renewed assault,
and the hunters entered the circle with
shouts and clamor; dry leaves and sticks
were flung upon the watch-fres till they
blazed aloft, and formed line of flame
on every side, except in the direction of the
corral, which was studiously kept dark;
and thither the terrified elephants betook
themselves, followed by the yells and
racket Of their pursurers.
The animals approached at a rapid
pace, trampling down the brushwood
and crushing the dry branches; the
leader emerged in front of the corral,
paused for an instant, stared wildly
round, and then rushed headlong through
the open gate, followed by the rest Of
the herd.
As if by magic, the entire circuit of
the corral, which to this moment had
been kept in profound darkness, now
blazed with thousand lights, every hun
ter on the instant that the elephants en-
tered rushing forward TO the stockade
with torch kindled at the nearest
wstchfre.
The elephants fret dashed to the very
extremity Of the enclosure, and being
brought up by powerful fence, started
back to regain the gate, but found il
closed. Their terror was sublime; they
hurried roudd the corral at rapid pace.
but saw 1t nov girt by fire on every side
they attempted to force the stockade, but
were driven back by the guards with
spears and Aambeaux; and on whichever
side they approached they we're repulsed
with shouts and discharges Of musketry.
Collecting into one group, they would
pause for moment In apparent bewil-
derment, then burst off in another direc.
ton, as If II had suddenly occurred 10
them 10 try some point which they had
before overlooked; but again repulsed,
they slowly return 10 their forlorn rest.
ing place in the centre Of the corral.