Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-03-31

Ibis covering Is Mdue W IOoh lAe
solid ground. The pits are dug at
random all over the elephants feed
ing grounds. They must all be dug
in a single night, care being taken
that the night shall be a rainy one.
so that the scent of the natives will
lie close and not be waited on the
night winds to the watchful animals
The morning after the traps are set
the hunters and the army of helpers
march through the elephants feeding
grounds firing guns, ringing bells,
beating drums and making all the
noise possible. In the general excite
ment and uneasiness that these pro-
ceedings cause the animals they begin
to move around, and before they real
ize it they stumble into the traps.
Once there they are unable to get out,
and the hunter begins to starve them
into submission.
After the elephant has been two or
three weeks in the trap it is an easy
matter for the mahout to adjust chains
on his feet and he is hobbled Strong
trees are then cut and lowered into
the pit, forming an incline, up which
the animal manages to walk, hobbled
as he is He then begins his journey
to the permanent camp, where, in com
pany with Others of his kind, his school
ing begins in earnest. Experienced
trainers teach from four to sl1 animals
each.
Mr. Hagenbeck and his son Loreuz
are directing the work OF capturing
the 60 elephants They are all to
come to Luna Park, Coney Island
N. Y, where they will do all sorts of
clever performances and form the
largest elephant community existing
anywhere outside Of the jungle Mr..
Hagenbeck has established a perma-
nent camp on the Ganges river and
sent hunting parties into the elephant
country of India as well as to the Is
land of Ceylon, whence come the best
elephants used as beasts Of burden in
India. Statistics show that about $50
Of them are exported from Ceylon to
India annually and have been for
many centuries past. It Is in the ex-
tensive, rarely visited upland county
of Ceylon, covered with dense and
dangerous forests, where, amid the
remnants of psgodas, palaces and tenn
ples constructed centuries before the
Christian era, roam in herds the cele-
brated elephants indigenous to Ceylon
These animals are still so valuable az
beasts of burden that a fine of 81 500
is imposed for killing one, and they
sell, even before being trained, for
from 1000 to 10000 rupees each.
There are many extraordinarily
large and intelligent elephants owned
by rich Maharsj.hs in India that no
amount of money could buy. They
are treated with the utmost consider
alton and cared for like only sons
In fact, throughout India, the elephant
is loved, feared and, in many rell-
gious ceremonies, even worshiped
At certain Buddhist temples a num-
ber of them have been trained to beg,
and stand, gorgeously caparlsoned, IN
many instances covered with jeweled
robes and ropes of pearls where the
faithful must pass them, and reach
for aims with their trunks. AS beasts
Of burden they are used in innumera-
bic ways, taking the place Of jack
screws, winches, hosting cranes and
all kinds of machinery, as well as
human laborers. Contrary to the
general idea, elephants chiefly use
their mouths and the muscles Of the
neck and not their trunks when work.
ing. Ropes or chains are placed
around the timber, stone or whatever
is to be moved or lifted, to which a
loop is attached. The elephants than
take the loop in their mouths and lift
the weight with the aid of their enOr-
nous neck muscles.
Elephants are quickly tanned, but
they are stubborn and slow to learn
to work or do tricks. Fear Of the
sharp elephant hook is more potent
than kindness in bringing about the
desired result. They never forget a
gratuitous injury and are always on
the lookout for revenge. All ele-
plants at one time or another go mad
or, as the native expression is, go
"musth. An elephant in "musth
kills first his mahout, although be
loves him best, and then every other
man or beast Unfortunately as be
sees them.
A love for elephant riding is said