The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-04
ANAcoNpA sTANDARD

ne WOud say. 1t is true; never yet did
| mark an elephant in the herd but |
captured it, Still, though Ali captured
an immense number of elephants. he
did not ALWAYS come off unscathed, as
the following incident Will show.
lie discovered a herd one afternoon.
ana the next morning. accompanied by
his lS-year-old son. Hassan, ne set out
TO rope q beast about two thirds grown,
FOR young animal is more easily
handled and tanned. Their outfit con-
sisted of four ropes made out of twisted
deer hide. each having carefully pre-
pared running moose. These ropes We're
very strong and elastic. and well adapt
ed to resist an immense strain. About
noon Ali and his son found the herd.
after tracking them for many miles,
and, carefully observing the wind. crept
up from leeward until within hearing
OF the elephants. The heat was intense
and the herd was resting in the shelter
of q clump of big trees. Except the
occasional swapping of a dead stick
under the ponderous weight of some
slowly moving beast or the swish Of a
leafy branch with which one would laZ-
lily brush off a fly, there was nothing
to indicate the presence of the game.
Ali. after diyesting himself of all
clothing except a scrap of cloth. which
every native wears, went on alone. leay-
ing Hassan in charge of the ropes.
Presently through the underground
was near the herd Careful observation
disclosed the proportions of a. full
grown animal, SO he quietly shifted his
ground until, after two or three at
tempts. he finally selected one young
enough To suit his purpose. Carefully
noting the exact location. he returned
for the ropes. He took two of them
and carefully coiled them over his left
arm, and Hassan followed with the
rest. Progress with the ropes was slow
Il ial4 n.
gray form of the elephant became WISH
BILE Ali signed to Hassan to stop and
crept forward alone. The delieacy of
this proceeding may Well be imagined
when IL is remembered how keenly en-
dowed the elephant is with the senses
of hearing and smell. Intense care in
moving will prevent noise. but IL is diff
ficult to imagine how the crackers keep
the elephant from seeming them. even
though the wind was favorable.
1t is possible they use the juice of the
strongly scented lemon grass which
grows around, or some other herb to
overcome the human odor. With the
two ropes ready Ali approached the ele
plant from behind. for it was his hind
legs he was attempting 10 secure.
When about 20 feet off he made the end
of one of the ropes fast To a tree. and
then, inch by inch. covered the inter-
Nening distance At last, after much
painful effort. he lay al full length al
most touching the animal. with two
nooses lying open. one behind each pill
lar-like leg. Giving a last glance TO
see that the rope he had fastened was
clear. he took the moose and pushed it
forward until ii touched one foot To
get il on the leg the elephant must by
some means he induced to raise his foot.
With a long thorn Ali gently prieked the
I other leg, just as fly might sting IL,
for the "pachydemmata,' in spite Of
| their thick hides, are very sensitive To
( the bites of insects. Slowly the foot he
was endeayoring To secure rose and
rubbed the spot he had pricked AS X
left the ground the moose was slipped
open beneath it, SO as To encircle it
when replaced. Then, after moments
pause, with steady, unfaltering hand
the moose was raised and lightly drawn.
When the elephant felt the contact Of
the rope he ut once, with the other foot,
attempted to shove ii off down to the
4 ground. This action allowed Ali to slip
the second moose into place. After an
! other pause both nooses We're raised and
still with gentle touch drawn tight, one
one each leg.
The elephant at once moved forward.
hut before il could feel the check of the
tree to which il was attached Ali had
glided away and taken a turn around
another trunk with the second rope
and made il fast. Nor was he "A mo-
ment too soon, for. suspeeting danger.
Z
+ mighty crash. When ii reached the end
/ of its tether its hind legs were pulled
from under and IL was thrown To the
ground. With a terrific scream of rage,
ii was on its feet again in an instant,
throwing itself forward with a force
that would have snapped ANYTHING but
ropes such as these. Under the mighty
strain they stretched like fiddle strings,
but with sudden contraction that
jerxed away the hind legs brought the
huge body down once more. AT the first
sound of alarm the whole forest seemed
+ alive with elephants rushing to and fro.
f while shrill trumpetings arose On all
E sides. Ali had at once made for the
/ spot where he had LETT Hassan twho had
+ meanwhile climbed a tree), and just as
I he reached ii gray mass burst
through the underbrush and an eIe-
plant, followed by the whole herd,
dashed by, knocking him over and
breaking one OF the bones of his left
forearm. 1nstinctiYely crouching
against the butt of the tree. he escaped
being trodden on, and, aided by Has
san. who let down one of the ropes. sue
ceeded in reaching a secure position in
the branches. For some time the herd
kept running about in a state of great
excitement. unable to understand the
cause of their companions detention
and struggles. but finally. after circling
round the spot several times departed.
injured though he was. Ali would not
leave his prize until he had made 1t
secure and presently descended with
Hassan TO where IL lay, exhausted. Al
the sight of the men the elephant re-
neWed its struggles, but finding them to
be of nc avail. ceased. standing upright
and keeping a watehful eye on it's cap
tors. Ii now became necessary 10 fasten
the forelegs. This feat required no
slight skill and dexterity. Finally after
many unsuccessful efforts. the elephant
trod within the moose Hassan threw in
front of ii, ana after two or three at
tempts were foiied by the animals
trunk, the rope was tied TO tree.
Lastly. the other foot was similarly
fastened. The captive was now held by
four ropes. all dragging different ways.
and so frightened as to render IL abso-
lutsly helpless. and so they left H. re-
turning for the time 10 the village. The
subsequent tanning of the elephant was
comparatively simple. II was deprived
of food and water for several days, dur
ing which il became accustomed L. the