The San Francisco call., 1896-11-22
ELEPHAhT HUNT IN SIAN DESCRIBED BY AN EYEWITNESS
Awe-Inspiring Sight Of Vast Herds Of
Mammoth Wild Tuskors

driven into the paddock, few OF the
tame amin ais being ridden in with them.
The opening is then closed by placing
heavy bars horizontally across. The rage
of these huge brutes when they find they
are imprisoned is hard to imagine. The
force with which they butt up against the
posts makes one wonder that they are not
killed instantly, but they walk away not
in the least dazed.
Now comes the exciting time of driving
the elephants into the inner inclosure or
paneat. One of the trained tuskers is rid
den up to the passageway at the apex, and
there waits till the herd is driven up close
to him, which is done by the tame ele-
plants, with the assistance OF men on
foot, who take refuge behind them with
long BAN boo poles, on the end OF which IS
fastened a knife eight or ten inches in
length, with which they jab at the mass
of moving flesh. Woe be to these fellows
if any of the animals break through the
line of guards, and especially SO if the one
breaking through be mother, whose baby
may nave been killed in the crush. Some
of these breaks have proved fatal to some
unfortunate spearsmen. The tusker walks
slowly into the passageway, and by both
driving and coaxing with bananas the
elephants are soon started into the paneat;
then what pushing and crushing time
there is. Often two of them try to go
through at once, and the force of those
pushing from behind jams them in so
tight that 1t is almost impossible to loosen
them. Finally they are all driven in; the
gate is closed, then the tired beasts have
rest till next day, when the task of select
ing and capturing the best OF the herd is
begun.
Early the next morning about six or
seven large tuskers are ridden into the
paneat, each with two mahouts mounted
on him. The rider on his neck has coil
OF rawhide rope, at the end of which is
a slip moose which is fastened to pole,
the other end being fast to the tusker's
neck. On the appearance of these animals
with their human riders the herd backs
away and huddles together like band OF
frightened sheep.
Round and round the Enclosure they are
followed, roaring and trumpeting almost
continually. When one of the animals
which has been chosen makes its appear
ance on the outer edge of this moving
mass the mahout nearest quickly bends
over and with his pole slips the moose over
hind leg as it is lifted. The animal rid
den is instantly turned and runs in the
opposite direction, bringing the young
tusker up with jerk that sometimes pulls
him off his feet. The rope is soon made
fast to convenient post after which more
are captured in the same way.
After capturing two or three screaming
youngsters gate is opened and the herd
is driven out TO the river to cool off. In
the meantime two of the tuskers are ri6-
den up to one of the little kicking fellows,
one on each side-and one in the rear. if it
is necessary-more ropes being fastened
around his neck and made fast to the old
fellows at his side. While this is being
done water is poured over his head and
back to allay his injured feelings as much
as possible. Thus, between his captors he
is led off 10 one of the long stables or sheds
near by, to be tanned and trained to take
his turn later on in making captives of
some OF his unfortunate relatives.
When the task OF taking these young
tuskers to the stables has been completed
the herd is driven back from the river to
an open space alongside OF the paneat,
and If it is considered best to take a few
more they are captured in the same way
as has just been described, put the captur-
ing outside of the paneat is made more
exciting by the fact that there is less OBJ
struction between the wild animals and
their liberty.
The sightseers crowd around as close as
they dare, the sight of whom does not tend
to sooth the big hearts of the already half
crazed animals. Occasionally one will
break through the line OF tuskers and
spearsmen and scatter the too curious to
most all points of the compass, and in
some cases play very good association
football in such way as to be very de-
pressing to the constitution OF the unfor-
iunate one who might be too slow to clear
the track.
When the most nromisinp of the voupo