Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-01-11

phants and prevented their breaking
down or attacking any portion of the
stockade. They frequently had to use
their spears to rive the Infatuated ami
mails away
The elephants continued to circle
about, one tiny one trotting around
after its mother in an amusing man.
ner.
At last they huddled together in the
thickest of the remaining jungle.
Immediately after the last elephant
had passed through the gate into the
stockade the coolies rapidly lighued
fires, shot volleys of blank ammuni-
ton and quickly planted posts and
supports bound together, thus effectu-
ally closing the gateway.
Capture % Jungle Kings.
After short9lnterval of noosing be
gan, it being best done shortly after
the first mad rushing and before the
animals got over their fright or have
trodden down all the jungle with the
stockade.
Half dozen elephants entered the
stockade, two natives riding upon
each and dozen natives following
upon foot, armed with spears for self
defense.
The tame elephants had rope collars
and rope surcingle, with loops for the
riders to hold on by. A tarred rope,
with a running moose, was attached
to the rope collar, the herd was kept
moving about, and as opportunity Of
fered the natives on foot, from be-
tween the legs of the tame elephants,
slipped the nooses between the feet of
the wild elephants when raised.
This was rather dangerous work, many
attempts and failures preceding the
final capture. Frequent kicks of the
wild elephants sent natives sprawling.
When noosed the wild elephants
were tied, first by one hind foot and
then by the other, to big tree, where
they screamed, pulled and beloved
Justify. Strong tarred ropes were tied
around the necks and bodies of the
captives, then tied to the rope collars
of the two tame elephants, after which
the wild elephants were united from
the tree. Then they were marched off
between the two tame ones, followed
by third tame elephant, which helped
with an occasional push when neces-
sary.
One of the baby elephants was very
plucky and not at all easy to secure
The largest of the elephants in the
kraal measured Is feet in height
After several months of captivity
chained by a forefoot to a stout tree
and under the care and training of a
keeper, they will be disposed of or
hired out by their captors and used
for dragging big timber or other
heavy work. Some of the younger ones
are sold to dealers in animals, who
train them for the circus, etc.
On the spot they are worth, accord
ing to the temper displayed, age, etc.,
from 200 to 500 rupees Ca rupee is 80
cents in United States money!. Four
months later they are worth several
times the price of the kraal, but in the
meantime have necessitated considera-
BILE expense in removing and training
them.
The government receives a royalty
of 10 rupees for each elephant kraaled.
A kraal entails considerable hard
ships on the little army of heaters,
with more or less loss of life or limb.
The beaters are villagers, chiefly Gin
galese, who are compelled by their su-
periors to leave their homes, perhaps
never to return, and assist in the
kraaling, sometimes being absent fol
months without compensation ana
compelled to carry their own provi-
sions or go hungry, and all for moth
ing; simply in obedience to the ola
law of Rajakariya.
These villagers, during the kraa1
build a small shelter of leaves and
cook and live on the spot. Their shelf
ers are few feet apart and several
coolies live in each A minor heads
man has charge of and guides the men
composing his portion of this army OF
coolies. OCCASIONALLY the villagers
surreptitiously put bullets into their
muzzleloaders instead of powder, and
sometimes an elephant is thus wound
ed.