Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-25
ELEPHANT HUNTING.
THE END OF A WEEKS SPORT IN
CEYLON.
The Manner in Which These Giants
of the Forest are Captured
Interesting Incidents.

only wants a vigorous effort TO thrust them
into it, aud that effort is about to be made.
We take tempting position up patri-
arehal tree that commands both the Jungle
prison and the kraal-moUth. 1t is curious
bow extremely brave you feel at kraal
when you are safely astride of firm
branch how you criticise the operations of
the beaters and musketmen, and courage
ously chaff your friends below whose want
Of activity has deprived them of similar
excuse for bravery But there is terrible
obstacle in the way of final success
in the shape of what is fondly called
",the high road" though it is merely a
sandy track, remarkable for the undeter-
mined depths of its ruts. This lies right
across the line of march. Can the ele-
plants be got over it in broad daylight :
for we have had enough of night attacks
and torchlight failures The struggle is
soon raging beneath us; and for good
hour we can trace the
EvoLUTIoNs OF THE HEADY FIGHT"
And the movement of the enemy and their
pursuers, in the swaying of the tree tops
and the crashing of the Jungle and the
shrill trumpetings of fear and rage, and the
shouts and shots of the dusky army. Closer
and closer 1t comes, up to the very verge of
the road, but nothing will persuade the
giants to break through the fringe of trees;
again and again they break back, facing
fire and smoke rather than publicity only
to be driven forward again, by volley upon
volley Of blank cartridge and an ever.in-
creasing ray of beaters, until at last a great
head, with sensitive trunk outstretched.
comes peering out of the thick bushes, and
tentative foot paws the sandy rut The
prospect is plainly not encouraging, for the
monstrous body is on the point of turning
round again; but luckily the heaters guess,
or are told of, the state of affairs. Pande-
monium let loose could not have excelled
the outburst of triumphant hubbub; the
die is cast, and the crossing of the Rubicon
commences. The enemy are led by an
enormous bull, who scorns TO hurry, and
proudly marches, rs though with the hon
ors OF war, from the evacuated fortress;
then follows female, perhaps the queen
OF his harem, much occupied with the
PROTECTION OF HER TWO TINY CALVES;
And it is touching to see how carefully she
guides and guards one with her trunk,
while the other holds on Justly with his
trunk to her stumpy apology for tail.
The rest of the herd are less interesting
and less digni6ed; there is no attempt to
defend the rear, which is seized with the
sentiment of " sauce qti peu:" helter-skel-
ter they rush over the binding sand, and
are lost to view in the thick trees that
guard and conceal the fatal entrance.
They are given but 4 short repose in this
last shelter; Just long enough for the at
lacking army to eat the midday rice, but
sufficient for one more despairing effort on
the part of the besieged. We have left
our coign of vantage and are standing on
the road, chatting to hungry musketeer
and rejoicing with him over the success of
the mornings efforts when suddenly there
Is heard the rush of heavy body through
the trees close to u.s. and outbursts the
great ball into the open, his trunk curled
up tight for striking, his tail in the air,
and look of desperate wicbedness in his
rolling eye. But the besiegers are ready
for him, even At rice-time; guns are seized
IN an instant, and
FIERCE voLLEY GREETs AND STOPS HIM
Ere he has time to pass the watch fires
he hesltates, and the elephant, like the man,
who does so, is lost. Two bold sentries
step forward and pepper his feet and trunk
with small shot: the line closes OF him,
firing as it closes; a great shout runs
down the length of it, and the champion
finding the better part of valor in discre-
ton, retires with uncurled trunk and
dropping tail
The battle is practically over. The en-
trance to the lraal is rendered more and
more inevitable by gradually closing lines
the herd wanders into it almost unconsci-
ously; stockade, corresponding to the
one at the farther end, is run up and lined
with guns, and the prisoners have begun
their captivity. The scene at the summit
of the amphitheater (if one may apply
such term to an oblong) is picturesque in
the extreme. Spectators from every WILL
age in the neighborhood have been pour
ing IN all the morning, and the f,irer Tor
shall We say gentler p sex is at last allowed
to appear, now that the danger is over.
Brilliant and dazzling are the colors scat
tered over the black volcanic rock that
rises from sea of jungle; wild and terror
stricken are the rushes of the huge captiyes
in the tolls; most audible is the buzz of
contented conversation above, most pitia-
bic the
But the wild herd is weary at last of tear
ing up and down the narrow arena, for the
heat Is very great, and the new Jungle is
trampled down sufficiently tie admit of sue
cessful operations. The stocKade at the
entrance is opened, and the four tanned ele
plants march stealthily in. Each carries
two mahouts and plentiful store Of strong
rope, while by the side, or rather under
the cover, of each walk two men armed
with sharp spears and two nooses. The
leader of the tame gang is mighty tusker,
on whose courage and GOODNESS everything
depends, for the other three are but nov
ices, and five to one is long odds in man.
moth battle. The object to be gained is to
approach the captives so quietly as not to
startle them into series of wild gallops.
10 cut of one of their number BY we'll
,Imed flank movement, and to hem him in.
Then Will the clever nooser do his work.
and slip def loop over the hind foot d.
rectly 1t is lifted, while his comrade fast
ems the other end to a neighboring tree.
and" dct,tm est dc elphdnto." But there is
many a slip between the lasso and the ele-
phantine foot. All goes smoothly at first !
The decoys steal knowingly along the side |
of the rock-wall to within ten yards of the |
herd, stopping or advancing according to
each sign of apprehension or confidence,
when suddenly
THE WILD ONES SCENT DANGER.
And, escape being impossible, determine
on resistance. The huge champion of the |
herd challenges the tusker in knightlv |
fashion, to single combat, and advances on |
him with STOPPING head and a reverberat-
ing roar. You can almost hear the great |
skulls crash together, so near do they ap- !
proach, when out step the spearmen in the |
nick of time, and strike the keen spears |
into the soft flesh of the trunk. and the I
charge is averted. But the champions
followers are bent on mischief in spite of |
discontinue; charge follows charge with |
furious frequency; one OF the tame ones is
IN full fight for the real, and the tusker and
has satellites have all they can do to save |
the retreat from turning into fatal rout.
An exciting incident happens Just below
US. 4 spearman has delivered his thrust |
at charging foe, but the spear breaks !
short off near the head, and remains stick |
ing IN the elephants trunk. He retires /
a