The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-03-13

and Tnmcd-A Fable.
How many Of our young readers who
have seen elephants in the menagerie
are aware how these huge animals are
caught? They run wild in the forests
Of Indiae Ceylon and other countries Of
Asia; aud once in awhile the rulers Of
those countries determine to have an
elephant hunt. They begin by inclos-
ing an acre or two Of ground in the for
est, and generally on the bank Of a
river; they put fence Of logs all
around it SO strong that the elephants
can not break il down. but with great
many holes where men can pass through
with ease There Is gate at each end,
which can be closed or opened instant
": from the entrance gate two fences
run out in the shape of the letter 'V,"
and each fence Is from five to ten miles
long. For mile or more the fences
are rs strong as the sides Of the yard.
but beyond It they are very slight At
the end Of the yard, opposite the en-
trance, there Is pen which will hold
three elephants standing side by side,
and there Is gate ut the end Of the
pen where the animals can be Let out
when desired.
When All Is ready. hunters are sent
into the forest to drive in the herds.
Elephants are very shy and will flee
from the presence Of men; the hunters
endeavor TO get on the side Of the herd
farthest from the yard before they are
discovered. Then the animals move in
the desired direction. and the great
effort Of the hunters is 10 have them 60
gently forward until they are within the
line Of the fences. or in the jaws Of the
letter ''V." Elephants are afraid Of
traps, and when they come to fence.
no matter how small II may be, they do
not try to cross it In this way they
are kept moving towards the yard, but
the hunters do not show themselves or
make any noise until the animals are
inside the strong part Of the fences. As
soon as this is accomplished there Is q
great tumult. Fires are lighted. guns
are fired, horns are blown. and the
frightened herd dashes forward and
enters the yard. Then the gate Is
closed and the great beasts are fairly
trapped.
They run around the yard and try to
escape. In the pen at the end opposite
the entrance. two tame elephants are
standing. and there is justroom for one
Of the wild ones TO squeeze in between
them. He goes in and the gate Is
closed: then the two tame elephants
hold him firmly with their trunks while
men slip through the holes in the fence
and bind the feet Of the captive with
strong ropes. When he Is well secured
the pen Is opened and the tame ele-
plants drag him to the bank Of the
river. where he is turned on his side and
left in the care Of keeper. Then they
go back again TO the pen and assist in
binding and dragging of another pris-
oner. In this way the hunters secure rs
many As are required and the rest are let
out 10 return to the forest
The captured elephants are kept lying
on their sides without food or water I'M
til they are completely conquered. They
are literally subducd by hunger and
thirst, as they receive nothing until
they throw up their trunks and make q
peculiar sound. which indicates that
they will obey their keepers. Then the
ropes are removed from their feet, they
are fed and allowed to drink a. much
water as they like, and are driven of
to the stables and put to work rs read
ily as though they had been in captivity
al their lives. They arc perfectly do
cilc and do not show any desire to re-
turn to their wild life in the forest; and
another curions thing Is that they are
ready to assist in capturing others in
the way they themselves were taken.
Very often the elephants that are used
for securing the wild ones In the pens,
holding them while the men are tying
their feet and dragging them out after
wards, are those which have been pris-
oners only one or two years The cap
turcd elephants groan and show great
distress while they are being secured;
they Irvine their trunks around each
othc-, and frequently the tears run
down their cheeks and they seem to be
CRYING like children. The tame ones do
not manifest the least sympathy with
them. but on the contrary, appear TO
| take pleasure In their sufIerings.
II requires from five to eight days to
starve an elephant into submission, the
time depending upon the condition Of
| the weather. During all this time the
| keeper STAYS close by his side, Watching
him through the day and sleeping BE-
tween his feet ut night, and thus making
| the animal accustomed 10 his presence.