The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-09-13

heart OF the forest great care being
taken not to disturb the trees or under
growth. in order TO conceal the corral
as much as possible by the dense foliage.
Large posts about one foot in diameter
and sixteen feet long are sunk in the
ground four feet. leaving spaces far
enough apart to allow a man to pass
through. The standing trees are utilized
wherever possible. Long poles about the
size and length of telegraph poles are
dashed horizontally to these uprights
with rattan or jungle ropes. From each
corner to the front, running obliquely
TO the right and left, long wings of the
. same construction are continued, con-
cealed by trees and brushwood. At this
end an entrance is left open. so prepared
as to be instantly shut by falling gates
The keddah being made ready. many
hundreds of men called heaters form
circle encompassing an immense area
of jungle many miles in circumference,
in order to surround as many elephants
as possible. This circle is by degrees
contracted, and fires are kept burning
day and night. The head men keep up
q constant patrol keeping the beaters
on the alert. since any neglect at one
spot would permit the escape of the en-
tire herd. The elephants are gradually
forced toward the enclosure until the
heaters are united at each end OF the
wings of the keddah, within which the
herd is detained to wait the signal for
the final drive.
At this stage the utmost caution and
silence are necessary, in order to avoid
alarming the elephants. Suddenly the
stiffness is broken by the distant roll OF
a drum, which Is the signal for the
heaters to begin the final drive. Those
along the farther line Immediately set
up loud shouts, beating drums end
tomtoms and firing guns. creating
perfect stampede among the wild ele-
plants. The men along the side lines
sill ont no
them; then dropping in the rear they
increase the din by joining in the cry.
The herd rushes forward till near the
entrance, when 1T suddenly stops, the
leader emerges from the bunch and
comes a few PAGES TO The front, looking
wildly around, throws up his trunk.
gives a shrill screech, and plunges
through the open gate followed closely
by the herd, where. for more than an
hour, they rush from side to side in
their frantic endeavors to break
through the Enclosure, screaming and
trumpeting with rage, until thoroughly
exhausted and apparently stupefied
They are no longer turbulent, but
completely dazed by amazement and
fear, forming a group, in the center OF
which they place their young. The
trained elephants are now quietly ad-
mitted, each being ridden by a keeper
and one attendant called a nooser. Two
! of these trained elephants move slowly
dlOnS the scllOn OF the CdpIlNeS.
Singing out one of the largest males
they push boldly in. one on either side
of him, till they stand abreast. The
nooser, watching his chance, when the
elephant lifts his hind foot, instantly
| passes the moose over his hind leg.
| This Is made fast to a collar worn by
| one of the tame elephants. Both tame
| elephants fall back, and while the one
| drags out the captive his companion
| places himself between the herd and
h. ~ III 20
| tree, to which he is fastened, believing
| with terror. A second rope is passed
| around the hind leg and also secured,
| the forelegs being made fast to trees
in front make the CAPTURE complete.
The same operation is repeated with
each wild elephant till all of the herd
| is secured. From half to three-quarters
| Of an hour is the time taken to secure
| each one. The captives show a remark
/ able difference in behavior. Some sub
NIT without resistance. while others
vent their rage upon every tree within
| reach. Some make no sound, while
| others below and trumpet furiously;
| others indulge in low and piteous moan
| ings; some lie perfectly motionless.
| with tears flowing down their eyes,
| presenting a perfect picture of exhaus-
/ ton and despair. 1t is strange that
| during these operations the wild ele-
] plants make no attempt to dislodge the
mahouts who ride on the tame ones
| of the herd, any one of which could
easily pull them off and trample them
to death.
The tame ones display the most won
derful conception of the object to be
attained and the means of accomplish
! ing it. Their conduct is perfect and
their caution and ssgacity marvellous.
There Is no hustle, no hurry, no confu-
sion. They play upon the fears of the
wild ones and seem to make sport of
their resistance. They sometimes hold
them down and kneel upon them TIL
| secured.
The surprising intelligence exhibited
by the decoy elephants casts the dex-
| terity OF the men in the shade. II is
| plain to the onlooker that without the
aid of the decoy the men would never
secure a single captive. The whole
| spectacle is a wonderful example of
voluntary alliance Of animal instinct
and sagacity in active cooperation with
| human intellect. and powerfully illus
trates the sovereignty of mankind over
brute creation.