The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-30
HUNTING ELEPEIAETS IN SIAM

United States Steamtr Ashuelot, Bang-
kok, Siam.-The business which brought
US here being now about finished, we
were beginning to think of leaving, when
we rot an invitation t. at 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 eclat to the occatiOn,
there was white elephant in the drove,
and that was of course the cause of great
rejoicing. Fortunately was one. of the
lucky ones who could go. There
were six Of US in all, the captain and five
of our mess. For nearly year they
had been collecting this drove from all
the distance provinces, driving them in
few at time, and now they were all
collected at Aynthia, place about sixty
miles up the river from Bangkok. Our
invitation came from the foreign Minis
ter, and he did everything up for us in
style; sent US a steam launch, to tow us
and do the cooking, &c, and what they
call house boat, with house built
over about half of it and very comforta-
bic, indeed We took bedding and
clothing, and that was all. Everything
else was provided for us. The Minister
also sent his interpreter with us. He
was Portuguese, very pleasant fellow,
who added much to our enjoyment.
We left the ship about daylight, and
had a most delightful trip up the
river.
The first day was devoted to captur-
ing the white elephant, nothing else be-
ing of sufficient Importance to touch on
the same day. The performance was to
commence at 1, and we went there about
II to secure good place; but, as u5uai,
we found ourselves well looked out for.
We We're given splendid places, just be-
low and in front of the King. A little
before the hour the herd was driven in
from tne stockade, where they had been
confined, ard queer sight it was. They
came on at very sedate pace, headed
by tame elephant, and surrounded by
about twenty other large tame elephants,
who had no difficulty at all in keeping
the herd together Each tame elephanthad
two riders who seemed to have the most
perfect control over the beasts, jabbing
them playfully 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 were about Is or 20 feet above
them, and the trained elephants, which
are used in the catching were brought
out. The elephant was taken by a high
noble, who is second lord of the elephants.
The wise men had been consulted, and
the exact minute at which it was proper
to take the fellow ascertained, and all
hands waited patiently until the King
gave the signal, and then he went for
him. There were IS5 elephants in the
herd 1--WE counted them afterward), and
it seemed almost impossible to pick out
the one they wanted; but they spotted
him instantly, and had rope around
his leg in very short time. The rider
carries coil of hide rope, in the end of
which is loop, which they carry on the
end of a long bamboo. They rush up
e behind the one they wish to catch, stick
this long bamboo down, and as he. lifts
q :, his hind leg to rush along, slip the loop
over it, and the trained elephant in.
e stantly turns and walks away with a
a taut, so there is no danger of it slipping
and then the end is thrown of and al
i lowed to drag.
In the case of full-grown elephants
e three or four ropes are necessary. They
: are immensely strong, made of buffalo
hide, but in the case Of the white ele-
;. phant only one was necessary, as he was
S. only three years old and quite small
d AS soon as the line was fast to him they
II caught the end of it, and made it fast t.
: a strong post, and then the tame ele
,e plant closed in, and drove the herd off
st leaving the poor little wretch all alone
IL IL His mother broke from the herd an(
came back, trampling on the line aDdpul
NJ ing at it with her Trunk, trying to fre'
I'd him, but they soon drove her off and lef
a. him alone in his glory. He beloved
and snorted and stood on his head, AM
le did everything he could to break tn
IL line, but without effect, and then the,
,e 70 closed in on him and capturned him. l
n. took three tame ones to do it, one but
n ting him from behind. The men on eacl
y: y. side passed strong collar around hi
T ,r neck, and then made it fast to other col
h lars around the necks of their own ele
plants, and thus they had him.
at a. They brought him up in front of tn
j. King, and washed him nice and clea
H. (tba aIanban+s kean themselves MI asterp