tagems, and reduced to captivity, where their
power and their docility have made them valuable servants of man. These artifices have undergone little variation for ages. In the present
day, when a herd of elephants is discovered, about
three hundred men are employed to form a great
circle around them, who light fires at each station.
Early next morning, one man is despatched from
each station to form a second circle outside, in
that direction in which they wish to drive the
animals. When this is made, the two circles
unite into an oblong, and the men behind begin
to shout and make as much noise as possible,
which causes the elephants leisurely to advance.
When they are got within the area of the new
circle, its hindmost part is closed up, and the men
light fires to pass the night as before. In the
morning the same process is repeated, and thus
the herd, avoiding the din behind it, gradually
advances in the desired line. If really alarmed,
the animals could easily break through the circle ;
but this the hunters carefully avoid; never shewing themselves, and content to annoy the quiet
animals by their noise. ‘The fires by night keep
them from approaching the circle.
In this manner they are driven to the keddah, an immense inclosure, formed of massive beams, terminating in a second, or even a third inclosure of smaller dimensions, but of similar strength. The last has a narrow outlet, through which only a single elephant can pass at a time. Though the bars of this prison are studiously concealed, much difficulty is often found to induce the sagacious creatures to enter; the herd frequently rushes back, and has to be reassembled by the same
