Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-06-05
Catching Elephants.
APECULIARA AED INTERESTING SCENE.

In February, IS, about three thous-
and persons were assembled in place of
rendezvous on the skirta OF jungle in
India, in order to catch elephants. The
haunts Of several having been ascertain
ed, line o. decentralization was formed
BY she people, who were provided with
firearms, tomtons, &c. The line ex-
tended tor several miles, each end
reached chaia Of hills, the passes
through which had been previously
stopped and guarded by parties Of
matchbox men. The object OF this
l.ne Was to drive the elephants toward
particularly narrow place surrounded
with stsep hills, and in which there
was abundance OF food and water for
several days. This, however, was not
an easy task, as the elephants frequent
ly attempted tO force the lines and get
oil to the eastward but the line grad
ually closed on them, and after hating
every night, and keeping up large hres,
after ten days labor they succeeded in
driving them into the preserve, where
they were surrounded and kept for sew
sral DAYS.
In the meantime, at the deboaehe OF
tais pass, several hundred people we're
bu.ie employed digging a deep ditch,
lnclosing about quarter OF a mile of
ground, leaving only the space Of few
yards untouched de an entrance. On
the outside OF the ditch a mating Of
branches was placed to give it for
midable and impossible appearance, aud
green bushes were placed at the en-
trance to give it as much az possible the
appearance Of a jungle.
When all this was completed the peo-
pie were removed from that place, and
those at the other end commenced fir-
ing and shouting, and making as much
noise as possible with drums and horns,
which so intimidated the elephants that
they made the best of their way to the
opposite end and the people following
close, with the assistance of a few
rockets, drove them straight into the
inclosure, when the remaining part was
dug away and the ditch completed.
People were Immediately posted round
outside the ditch, and armed with long
spears and match-locks, to repel any
attempt the elephants might make to
cross it.
Next day eight tame elephants were
introduced into the inclosure the ma.
houts couched close on their necks,
covered with dark cloths. The object
Of the tame ones was to separate one of
the Wild ones from the herd and mob.
Wnsn this was accomplished four
mahouts, whose profession is 10 catch
elephants crept between the legs of
the tame ones, and, having fastened
s!rong ropes to the legs OF the fellow,
secured him to nearest tree. The ma
hOuts then retired towards the ditch,
aud the tame elephants, leaving the
captive to his struggles, went after 9TH
ers. In this way twenty-three elephants
were captured in SIX days, without the
parties engaged meeting with the slight
est accident, to the great amusement OF
tho spectators, who, perched on trees
overhanging the inclosure, witnessed
the sport without sharing m the danger.
The sagsc!Ly of the tame elephants.
the address and courage OF the
mahouts in approaching the wild ones,
the anxions moments which passed from
the cast of the first rope until the last
band was tied, the rage of the animals
: upon finding themselves entrapped, anc
their astonishing exertions to get free
afforded altogether scene Of no ordi
. nary novelty and interest.