New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-14
ELEPHANT HUNTING.
STIRRING DOINGS IN THE ROYAL
CORRAL OF THE ANCIENT
SIAMESE CAPITAL.
Trom NJ Cornhin Magazine-

interesting sight in SIAM is an annual event
which takes place at the kraal in Ayuthia-the
ancient capital-a town of considerable impor-
tance on the Menam, some fifty miles north of
BANGKOK 1t Is the occasion of a general hO-
Gay Banks and offices closed. Ministers.
consuls, missionaries, lawyers, DOCTORS mer-
chants and clerks join in one gigantic picnic up
the river There are no roads to Ayuthia, so
they must so by water The more fortunate
travel In well appointed households. others in
anything, from small launches TO large river
steamers Whle members of the club generally
charter mammoth steam wheeler. And TO add
ecat 70 the event, the hunt is directed by one of
The pT3nces-on the occasion l describe by a
brother Of the King.
The kraal. corral paneet which was built
more than a hundred years ago. is large
lhclosuIe ~ feet square surrounded by brick
wall nine feet high, varying from thirteen TO
twenty feet IN thickness with parapet on each
Sloe forming a fine promenade shaded by
g. ueeS whose roots are deeply embedded in
The Drlckwork. Three sides Of the square.
reached ny steps from without, are open TO the
bei-eII pupllc. IheTe Is a raised platform over
the centre Of the south wall. forming the grand
stand. for favored Europeans and natives, which
IS IooIed by a typical example of Siamese archi-
lecture and consists Of a central cruciform
part with the arms extended by two lengths of
gaDle on either side. each lower than. and pro-
9ectng from. the other, which gives the impress
sion that they are IelescOpic. and can be run
In or out to suit requirements. There are two
entrances, one in the north wall in front of the.
grandstand, and the other in the southeast cor
ner, both guarded by strong and ingcniously
posed Of two heavy timbers hanging on pins
from crossbeams above, and reaching below the
4tNtl u Inc ground where they INT a
1hese are drawn apart at the bottom by small
WlndIasses. and when open form an inverted V
win just room enough for elephant at a
tlHle 10 pass through on the lever being released
they close instantly by their weight About
twenty-four feet within the walls is a smaller
enclosure fenced by pallSade of huge teak
logs planted in the ground so closely together
mat there IS only space for a man TO squeeze
between them. The enormous strength Of tho
ience Is al once apparent from tho size Of the
tmbers. many Of them being upward of four
feet IN circumference. / measured several and
fence IS further strengthened by horizontal
beams firmly dashed to the logs foot or so be-
low their heads and from these struts rake
backward 10 the foot of the wall: the whole
forming an enclosure capable Of resisting a ire
nlendous pressure from within In the middle is
shelter or refuge composed Of clump Of teak
piles supporting wooden tower with three
LeTed roof rising TO a graceful needlelike spire.
This also forms an obstruction to the move
nent II the animals when excited. and serves
- centre around which mill the herd.
IN this kraal The catching takes place. The term
hunt although invariably used in Siam, is
misleading. as the real hunting Is done in the
jungle by the natives, who drive in the wild
elephants.
GREAT POPLAR OUTING.
The general interest starts with the arrival of
the animals, the day before that appointed for
the catch. AyuIhia then appears like a city Of
the dead All the busy shops closed the
noaIlLS houses and nuts deserted. and large
boats and steamers. that cannot go UP the klong
or canal TO the kraaI, are moored to the banks
anchored in the stream. But mile further
up al IS sayety and animaJOn-a second Hen
ley Inc river lined with launches house and
chow boats, Is simply alive with canoes, sam
pans and small craft Of every description Eu-
Topeaus are camping out in the temple rest
houses. vat Salas. and the banks are crowded
with thousands Of brightly dressed natives,
eager and excited, conspicuous among whom
the oreigners-especiall y the women The mas
siye brown walled corral looks solemn and i'm
posing in contrast TO some graceful green and
red rooted temple buildings half a mile across
pleasant stretch Of springy sWard An hour is
quickly WnIled away here, greeting friends and
,uatchlng the habits OF a goOdly variety Of East
~ races a sharp eye at last detects a dark
mass emerging from fringe Of jungle on the
far side Of an open eXpanse Of dried paddy
fields. ana the shout ma laaw' is taken up all
over The ground the people rush to secure
good places for seeing The animals ford the
river. One by The herd. numbering nearly
four hundred. comes into view, rounded up and
led by the trained elephants. There is no hurry
would think, 10 see their measured steps, that
they could not go faster, but only get them eX-
cited. and the rate at which their clumsy
legs can carry their pOnderOus, SWaEing bodies,
IL is d strange sight % see them sliding down
thu steep bank into the river, with their back
l4es stretched out behind. And with what evil
dent delight they play about and cool them
selves bv blowing shower baths Of water over
1heir backs, After d few minutes the mahOuts
prod their mounts and lead on. followed by the
whole herd. which is punched together by out
riders on the sides who keep in stragglers. The
kraaI is only a couple of hundred yards from the
river. and there is funnel shaped enclosure
extending from the north gate 10 the ford. Into
TINS the animals are slowly led-for they must
now be kept very quiet. one leader and then
another passes through the narrow gateway,