The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1900-04-05
AN ELEPHANT DRIVE
GREAT BEASTS SURROUNDED
BY NATIVE COOLIES.
Using the Tame Animals Cingalese
Compelled by Their Superiors to Assist
In the KraafIng without Compensation
old Law of Rajakariya. v

In the interior of Ceylon l had rath-
err a novel experience, that of witness
ing an elephant kraal, says a Calcutta
correspondent of the Baltimore sun.
Several weeks previously two herds oil
elephants had been surrounded by
some 1000 native coolies under the
orders of their ratamahatmayas, pre-
parators to the kraaling. The plot OF
wilderness and jungle surrounded by
the coolies extended over an area OF
about 1900 acres. Every night, by fir
ing blank ammunition, kindling fires,
beating tomtoms and loud shouting,
the elephants were driven several hun-
dred yards nearer to an improvlsed
stockade. This was repeated nightly
until the elephants were half a mile
or less from the mouth of the stock
ade. This chase sometimes requires
more than two months. The circle
of coolies then opens and incloses
within it's ranks the entire stockade.
This stockade was built of stout tree
trunks, deeply and firmly imbedded in
the ground at a distance of two feet
apart. These tree posts projected
some fourteen feet above the earth,
and were REINFORCED by three parallel
lines of horizontal cross pieces, secure
ly tied to the posts with wild vines and
creepers. The whole was further
strengthened by a series of slanting
braces, firmly fixed in the ground, and
having horizontal cross-pieces also
bound to them. The stOckade or
'kraal' was about 500 feet square, and
built in a jungle, with it's entrance dis
guised to appear as the thickest part
of the jungle. The entrance for the
game was from fifty to seventy feet
wide, and at the north side Of the
stockade. Beyond the stockade, on the
south, opposite it's entrance, was Kraal
Town, which consisted of several doz-
ems of native shops and a number of
bungalows, built of palm leaves and
lined inside with white cloth, all tenn
porary, for the occasion. The bunga-
lows were gayly decorated with bunt-
ing and flags. A kind OF grand stand
had been erected just outside the
stockade, on the south side next to
Kraal Town. About z a. n. we has
tened to the grand stand. The drive-ln
had already commenced, the shouts OF
the drivers and the firing of their guns
resounding on all sides. The beaters
came nearer and nearer, the cracking
trees, vines and jungle growth becom-
ing terrific as the rushing elephants
approached nearer the stockade. The
excitement and interest were intense.
Repeatedly some of the elephants made
determined attempts to break through
the lines of coolies, but were met with
volleys from the guns and loud cheers
from the beaters, who rushed toward
the huge beasts and by their courage
and bold front wed and turned them
once more toward the stockade. Fin
ally the largest and most ferocious
elephant, which had been leading the
herd, made a mad rush for the patch
OF dense green jungles ahead, which
disguised the entrance to the stock
ade. There followed a tremendous
crash and cracking of breaking
branches, vines and jungle growth
seemingly right about our stand.
The gigantic leader of the hero
rushed toward the grand stand, fol-
lowed rapidly by the whole herd ii
single file. The coolies swarmeC
around the outside Of the stockade, be.
meath the grand stand, and with vol
leys from their guns and with spear:
and loud shouting turned the course
of the elephants and prevented theil
breaking down or attacking any por
ton of the stockade. They frequentl.
had to use their spears to drive tn,
Infatuated animals away. The ele
plants continued to circle about, on
tiny one trotting around after it
mother in an amusing manner. A
last they huddle together in the thick
est Of the remaining jungle.
Immediately after the last elephau
had passed through the gate into tn,
stockade the coolies rapidly lightet
fires, shot volleys of blank ammuni
ton and quickly planted posts ant
supports bound together, thus effectu
ally closing the gateway. After a shor
interval the nOosing began, it beinl
best done shortly after the first ma,
rushing and before the animals go
over their fright or have trodden dow
all the jungle in the stockade. Hal
a dozen tame elephants entered tn
stockade, two natives riding upon eacI
and a dozen natives following on foot
armed with spears for self-defense.
The tame elephants had rope collar
and a rope Surcingle, with looms fo