The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-14


the kraal, and at some distance from it,
as the power of scent is particularly
keen ia an elephant. and if once a
panic is raised, they would all rush mad
ly away, and be never seen again in that
locality. In the immediate vicinity of
the kraal, and commanding good view
of the whole proceedings, were most ex-
traordinary nests, constructed high up
among the branches, and of sufficient di-
mensions to accommodate most of the
party. They were thus made: A num-
Der OF good stout poles were laid from
the branches of one tree to another, some
sixty feet from the ground, and careful
ly made fast; Others were then placed
across them, and side raiings four feet
high were added for security.
These last were interviewer with leafy
branches, which efectually concealed
the occupants; ladder of long bam-
boos completed the thing; and thus were
constructed veritable crows nests, ad-
mirably adapted for a good view of the
proceedings combined with perfect Sc
curity. The kraal was government
one; and about two thousand natives had
been employed for more than a fortnight
in driving the adjacent country; by day
they had white wands and at night
torches. The elephant is timid ami
NAL when not provoked or wounded,
and the above simple means were amply
sufficient to prevent the animals from
'hearking back" On this occ sion, by
good management large body of ele-
plants had been driven slowly into the
neiChborhood of the kraal. The excite
ment was getting intense; every crash Of
a falling branch or the chattering Of the
large monkey common to these woods,
made one start, and gaze expectantly in
the direction of the elephants.
At last, when our patience was we'll
nigh exhausted, fine herd was seen in
the distance slowly approaching, under
the guidance of three or four decoy ele-
plants, who were employing every sooth-
ing art to induce the leaders to accompa-
ny them into the kraal. Strange to say,
the elephant in its captive stale seems to
take absolute pleasure in decoying its
wild congeners into the kraals, and in
subsequently, aiding in making them cap
tive also. About forty Had entered,
when the rear-guard were seized with a
panic and bolted through the line of
beaters. The entrance was thereupon
Immediately barred, and those that were
within made safe. Then came the fun
Of the thing. A decoy elephant eau
tiously approached the nearest
wild one, its mahout (driver) walk
ing on the off side, and timing his move
ments so as to be always concealed by
the fore-leg of his animal. With admi-
rable tact, after many attempts the de-
coy persuaded the captive to raise one of
its hind legs, which was mainly brought
about by the former tickling the wild
elephant with its trunk, and SO causing it
to lift its leg. a moose was Immediately
slipped round it by the adroit attendant,
and the other end was made fast to a
neighboring tree, after which the poor
animal was left to its fate; and It's insidi-
Gus visitors proceeded to another, whom
they served in the same manner; and so
by degrees all the best elephants we're Sc
cured The remainder were subsequently
shot by the sportsmen who were there.
The Ceylon elephant enjoys a good
name not only in Ceylon but on the
coast for docility and intelligence. How
ever, they are not always to be trusted,
and at certain seasons they lose all com
mand over themselves and are extremely
dangerous. / remember an incident
which took place at kraal at Kornegal,
between Colombo and Handy. Among
the decoy elephants was splendid fell
low. belonging to the Temple of Buddha
at Handy. He was one Of the finest
have ever seen, measuring upward of
eleven feet in height, with a pair of
tusks that would have made Gordon
Cumming 60 crazy about. He was al
ways rather quick-tempered, perhaps
from being made so much of as a tenn
pie elephant, and fears were entertained
that his behavior might be bad, and
that the sight of 80 many old
companions in a wild state might in
juriously affect him. The result may be
anticipated. In the middle of the day,
and in the height of the excitement,
when many elephants had been secured,
wild trumpeting was heard, and pres
emily all eyes were turned downward
from the crows nests to witness the
spectacle of the temple elephant in full
chase Of his driver, who had given him
some cause for provocation, The man
held his own CALAMITY for time only,
just out of reach of the elephants trunk;
still there appeared hopes that he would
gain the jungle and set his pursuer at
defiance. All of sudden he was seen
to fall, having stumbled over the pro-
jecting root of tree. In an instant the
elephant, mad with rage, had gone on
his knees, and 10 all appearance had i'm
paled the unfortunate man. A shrek
burst from all present, who were sickened
at a sight which so miserably marred the
otherwise successful issue of the day.
But what was our joy when the man
was seen to wriggle himself out from be-
tween the tusks of the beast, regain his
feet, and before his adversary could ex-
tricate his tusks from the ground, again
continued his flight He was, however,