The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-01-21

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
wooden tracing pegs pulled up ovel
night, the tracks indicating that the
mischief has been done by elephants
One traveller who was being chased BY
a rogue" threw down his valise an6
made his escape while his massive
pursuer halted to break open the bag
and examine it's contents. Hunters
| have observed that a wounded ele-
| plant will not charge across an inter
vening hedge, but will run up and
! down in search of an opening. A
| mere string suspended from slender
posts will protect a field of grain from
elephants, the animals fear of pitfalls
seeming to make them wary of all
such distractions, even though the
slightest brow would remove them.
Elephants will never stay in a jungle
during thunderstorm, their fear of
remaining near trees which might be
struck by lightning causing them to
repair to the open ground.
HOW THE GIANTS ARE CAUGHT.
Although elephant shooting was the
standard sport of Ceylon in the earlier
days, the herds are now protected by
law and their wanton destruction for
ceased. On account of the elephants
usefulness the capture and training of
them has become an adroit science.
The old way was to lure them into pits,
but this procedure was so likely to in
jure, the captives that a safer method
has been devised. This consists of
driving them into an enclosure called
a kraal. The roundup is accomplish
ed by beating the jungle with drums,
guns and torches, the line of beaters
gradually narrowing toward the mouth
of the enclosure, into which the fright
ened animals rush with the idea that
it offers an avenue of escape.
Once inside they are left until their
fear and beWilderment begins to sub
side, when number of trainers mount
ed on the backs of tame elephants enter
the enclosure and proceed to tie the
captives to trees or stout stakes. The
intelligent part the tame elephants take
in this work is remarkable. Two of
them approach wild one from either
side and gradually force him back
ward toward the stake where he is to
be tethered. The prisoners most flu
rfous resistance is unavailing against
the cool, patient, intelligent manipu-
lation of the decoys. The roping of a
wild elephant is necessarily a difficult
task for the men who accomplish 1t.
but the tame ones are so vigilant and
in their assistance that IA |
talities seldom occur.
THE PROCESS OF TRAINING.
The process of training a wild ele-
plant is simple, nevertheless the re-
suits are quite astonishing. For the |
first few days it is left alone with
tame one tied near to give it conf
fence. At first the captive will refuse
God, but the decoy soon soothes it and
0ersuades it to eat. The first step to-
ward teaching the stranger respect
md obedience is to place him between
wo tame animals, while several men
confront him with sharpened irons. As
lie lunges forward his trunk comes in
ontact with the points of the weapons
nd becomes SO sore that he soon
earns to hold it up or curl it in close
ut of harms way. After this first
asson an elephant seldom attempts to
se its trunk extensively.
1t is taken to water securely tied to
wo tame animals, and at every at
empt to break away is mercilessly.
rodded in tender places with sharp
'ons. 1t is pricked to make it lie
own, and the same process is repeat i
to force it to get up It soon learns Il
} avoid pain by responding to the 3
1reat rather than the act of torture.
is found that elephants which are
lie most obstinate and violent al first
re the quickest to be effectually sub
ued while those that are sullen and +
orose can rarely be trusted in after 4
fe.
FTEN DIE OF BROKEN HEART.
The presence of tame elephants is
ION dispensed with and the captive
dden alone by the driver. Although
: may appear docile it is not desira-
e TO work him too soon, as there are
equent instances where a valuable
limal has lain down and died Of a
oxen heart the first time it was put u
harness. Even if he does not die at 81
ICE from the ignominy of being put to s.
ork captured elephant is likely to IS
come 50 fretted when forced to labor Sz
at he will sicken and die in a short 6
ne. M
The first employment an elephant is g
ually put to is treading clay in a a
lex yard. or dragging burdens by Is:
e side Of a tame companion The &
gacity that elephants show in per- IS
ming labor is extraordinary Two 81
them viii pile up logs with as much q
ecision and with greater rapidity IS
Continued on page s. Z