The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-10-24
ELEPHANT HUNTING.
Stirring Doings in the Royal Corral of
the Ancient Siamese Capital

STIRRING DolngS IN the Royal Corral or
the Ancient Siamese Capital.
The elephant hunt, which is perhaps
the most interesting sight in Siam, is
an annual event, which takes place at
the kraal in Ayuthia-the ancient capt.
tal-a town Of considerable Importance
on the Meinam, some fifty miles north
of Bankok. 1t is the occasions of a
general holiday. Banks and offices are
blOSed. Ministers, conSuls, miSsiona-
ries, lawyers, doctors, merchants and
clerks join in one gigantic picnic up the
river. There are no roads to Ayuthia,
so they must go by water. The more
fortunate travel in we'll appointed
Households, others in anything, from
small launches to large river steamers,
while members of the club generally
charter a mammoth steam wheeler.
And, to add eelat to the event, the
hunt is directed by one Of the princes
on the occasion I describe by a brother
of the king.
The kraal corral, or paneet, which
was built more than hundred years
ago, is a large Enclosure two hundred
and two feet square, surrounded by a
brick wall nine feet high, varying from
thirteen to twenty feet in thickness,
with a parapet on each side, forming
fine promenade shaded by several trees
whose roots are deeply embedded In the
bricltwork. Three sides of the square,
reached by steps from without, are
open to the general public. There is a
raised platform over the center of the
mall fH,rr f1n 4 x.+. i
for favored Europeans and natives
which Is rooted by typical example of
Siamese architecture, and consists Of
central cruciforn part with the arms
extended by two lengths of a gable on
either side, each lower than, and pro-
jecting from the other, which gives the
impression that they are telescope, and
can be run in or out to suit require
ments. There are two entrances, one
in the north wall, in front of the
grand-stand, and the other in the
southeast corner, both guarded by
strong and ingeniously contrived gates
two at each entrance-composed of
two heavy tin1bers hanging on pins
from crossbeams above, and reaching
below the level of the ground, where
e'ANJ 49, tiAtO O. SiOONC' 4licGS dle
drawn apart at the bottom by small
windlasses, and when open form an in
verified Y, with just room enough for
one elephant at time to pass through.
On the lever being released they close
instantly by their own weight. About
twenty-four feet within the walls is a
smaller enclosure, fenced by a palisade
of huge teak logs planted in the
ground so closely together that there
is only space for man to squeeze be-
tween them. The enormous strength oil
the fence is at once apparent from the
size Of the timbers, many of them being
upward of four feet in circumference.
l measured several, and found one five
feet nine inches around. The fence is
further strengthened by horizontal
beams firmly dashed to the logs foot
or so below their heads, and from these
struts rake backward to the foot of the
wall; the whole forming an enclosure
capable of resisting a tremendous pres
sure from within. In the middle IS a
shelter or refuge composed Of clump
of teak piles supporting a wooden tower
with a three TERED roof rising to a
graceful needlelike spire. This also
forms an obstruction to the movement
of the animals when excited and
serves as a center around which to