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PLATE XII. THE GREAT ELEPHANT KRAAL AT COTTAWYA.

Cottawya is about eight miles from Tangalle, by a wretched cross-road, chiefly through paddy fields, the country, where not cleared, being covered with a low bush, or jungle, abounding in peacocks, jungle-fowl, deer, wild hog, and other game, from the jack-snipe to the elephant.

On the occasion of the great elephant hunts, which of late years seem to have nearly fallen into desuetude, a number of picturesque huts are erected, under the direction of the collector of the district, for the accomoda-tion of such European gentlemen as may come to witness this extraordinary scene, the sight of which amply repays the fatigue and trouble of the journey even from Colombo. When the governor, or other high functionary is expected, the preparations are, of course, on a grander scale, and all the ingenuity of the Cinghalese in their peculiar and tasteful style of decoration with the ola, applied to triumphal arches and various forms of ornamental arrangement, both internal and external, is called into play, the Dhobey, or washerman of the village, being required to furnish white cloths for lining the insides of the huts, which are constructed of kejhans, and thatched with paddy straw, which is abundant in the neighbourhood.

The kraal is of triangular shape, and vast dimensions, and may be compared to a funnel, the extremity, or pipe, specially called " the funnel," being just wide enough to admit one elephant, which, when once in, cannot turn, and is goaded on by the hunters through the posts - strong bars being placed across, both behind and above him, to prevent his backing or rearing; and in this manner the animal is urged forward to the end of the funnel, where he is finally secured and taken out between two tame ones, as will be hereafter described. The earth within the funnel is made about two feet lower than on the outside, which gives the hunters more command over their colossal captive. The posts, or uprights, of this gigantic palisading, are formed of the trunks or large limbs of trees, stripped of their bark, from twelve to fifteen feet in height, and from six to ten inches in diameter ; the cross bars, or rails, of which there are four rows, being of still larger dimensions, and formed of iron-wood, or the strongest timber that can be procured. The two sides of the kraal, which are called the wings, are connected at the extremities by a similar fence, having four gates, and by another near the funnel, which has only one, and forms the water-kraal, a stream running through it as an inducement to the elephants to enter. This last gate is constructed of very strong bars connected by flexible bands of bamboo and ropes, so as to be rolled up, and let down when there is a sufficient number of elephants in the water-kraal.

Branches of trees are heaped up on the outside to mask the inclosure, and two long lines of fires are formed on the prolongation of the wings, between which the elephants are driven to the immediate vicinity of the kraal, by a host of natives employed by the government, and, formerly, pressed for the service. The fires are commenced at a great distance from the kraal, being, at first, large and distant, and becoming smaller but more frequent as they approach the kraal. Immediately adjoining it, the fires are very small, being made on rude stands, formed of sticks, on which is placed a layer of green leaves, a piece of talipot-leaf, or, sometimes, merely straw, covered with earth, on which a few lighted sticks are laid - the slightest indication of fire, or even the smoke, being sufficient to deter the elephants from passing them : they have a sort of roof formed of talipot-leaf or straw to shelter them in case of rain, and men are appointed to prevent their going out. When as many elephants as possible have thus been collected, another line of fires is formed just beyond them, parallel to the wide end of the kraal, connecting those at the sides, the hunters all closing in and watching their prisoners, day and night, keeping up an incessant shouting as a further means to deter them from approaching their lines. All the modeliars and men, for miles round, were compelled to give their services to the government on these occasions, for the daily sum of six pise, about 2d. farthing British, per man, for a period of five or six weeks, which rendered this, perhaps, the most oppressive and unpopular of all forced labour under the old system, those hunters who possessed lands of their own being obliged to leave them neglected, and their families unprotected, for such a length of time, and for so trifling a remuneration. On this occasion the maha, or chief, modeliar informed the author that 3000 men were so employed. This functionary, the highest native one in the maritime provinces, is represented in the Plate, in his full dress of blue and gold, with his peon, or attendant, in scarlet coat and cap, shading him with an ornamented talipot-leaf, both wearing the Cinghalese cloth, or comboy, as a nether garment, which forms an odd mixture with the upper or European one - that of the modeliar being the same as in the time of the Portugese. Behind the maha modeliar stands his son, also attended by a talipot-bearer in the ordinary dress-costume of the upper class of Cinghalese in the low country, who wear their hair long, like women, combed back from the front, and turned up in a knot behind ; into which is stuck a large square-topped tortoise-shell comb, so that it is difficult for a stranger, at first, to distinguish such as have not beards from the other sex, and laughable mistakes occasionally occur in this respect. To the right of the maha stands the modeliar of the Giruapattoo, the district in which Cottawya is situated, also attended by a peon, a wild-looking creature with no covering but a cloth. He is busily employed in directing the operations of the hunters, who are securing an elephant at the end of the funnel previously to taking him out between the two tames ones, but before detailing this operation, the preliminary one of driving the herd into the kraal must be described.

When all is reported ready, the driving in, which commences at dusk, in order to give greater effect to the chules, or large torches made of dried cocoa-nut leaves, takes place, seats being prepared on elevated stands, or in trees, near the outer gates, to give the visitors and directors of the hunt a close view of the exciting scene.

Chules having been previously distributed to the hunters, at a given signal they are lighted simultaneously, and the forest appears one blaze of light, additional fuel being at the same time heaped on the surrounding fires. Some of the drivers are provided with fire-arms, and others with rockets, which they keep constantly discharging, in order still further to terrify the elephants, and make them enter the kraal. The effect heggars description; the rushing of the bewildered and infuriated animals (amongst which were numerous elk, deer, and wild hogs), literally shook the earth and the tree in which the author was; and as the hunters closed upon them and became visible, their wild and sooty countenances illumined by the glare of the chules which they brandished about, together with their shouting, the crashing of the trees, and the roaring of the elephants, made one almost fancy one's self suddenly transported to the infernal regions ! In a few minutes from the giving of the signal, the whole herd, said to amount to 300, were driven in; and the author counted sixty-two (exclusive of several calves, some of them not bigger than large pigs), passing through the gate near which he was stationed. The hunters now mustered inside the gates, with redoubled yells, to prevent the animals from rushing out again, and the gates were quickly and strongly secured. A suitable number were now urged forward into the water-kraal, the door of which was then let down, and three or four were driven into the funnel, the first one being goaded on to the end of it, as already described, and thus terminate the operations of the first night.

At daylight next morning the taking out commences, preparatory to which strong ropes are made fast to all the legs of the captive elephant a little above the feet, another rope being passed frequently round his neck, so as to form a strong collar, the ropes at the hind legs being passed round the posts of the funnel, so as to be slackened or tightened as it may be necessary. Two tame elephants, well drilled to the business, are then brought up, with their backs to the end of the funnel, one on each side, the inside hind leg of each being made fast to one of the posts. They have also each a strong collar of rope round their necks, to which one end of another very thick rope is attached, whilst the other end, having been passed through the collar of the wild elephant, is brought out again through the bars, and hauled tight by a number of men. The tame elephants have a harness of rope passing under the tail round to the shoulder, on the outer sides of which the mahout, or driver, and two assistants stand, a man being also at the head of each elephant to keep it steady.

The bars forming the door are now removed, and the leg ropes being slackened, the wild elephant rushes forward between the two tame ones, the ropes running through his collar being hauled tight by the men holding them, and thus yoking him between the two others, who squeeze him between them, thump his head with theirs, and lash him with their trunks, if he prove refractory. He is, however, generally too much exhausted by his previous struggles to be capable of much resistance, which he, moreover, seems to feel as hopeless, and usually submits to his fate with wonderful quietness - to which the example of the tame ones doubtlessly contributes. The ropes about his hind legs being now freed from the posts, he is urged forward with the two others, and secured between two trees - his hind legs being lashed together and made fast to one, and his fore legs being stretched out and fastened to another. Being thus secured he is left alone, some fresh cocoa-nut leaves being given to him by way of consolation. When he finds himself released from the tame elephants, the captive's struggles for liberty are again renewed with all his remaining strength, but soon finding them as useless as his previous ones, he generally resigns himself to his fate. Some, however, are perfectly inconsolable at the loss

of their liberty, and, refusing all nourishment, pine in despair till death releases them from their sufferings.

An elephant may sometimes be tamed in eight or ten days, but it generally requires two or three months to render them fit for use.

Having given a full account of the manner of hunting and ensnaring elephants in Ceylon, the author will now conclude his labours with some remarks on the general history and habits of this stupendous and sagacious animal, drawn from the best authorities, and from his own observation during a service of nine years in Ceylon and three in the Cape colony.

The height of the elephant in Ceylon varies from seven to ten feet, though it rarely exceeds nine, and eight feet may be taken as the average height, measured at the shoulder. The elephant of South Africa is much larger, and has been known to measure fifteen feet; all the males there have tusks, whilst in Ceylon "tuskers" are comparatively rare.

The elephants of Ceylon have always been considered as peculiarly docile: there are three classes of them. The first is distinguished by long tusks, turning upwards; the second has shorter tusks, descending perpendicularly ; and the third has none. The first is considered the most intelligent, the last is by far the most numerous. Although elephants are gregarious, they are said always to pair, and when one dies, or is lost to the herd, the survivor is expelled, and must wander in a solitary state until he finds another partner. This state of exile often produces frenzy, and though the united herd will never attack a man without provocation, it is very dangerous to meet a single wild elephant.

The proboscis serves for a variety of purposes, affording its possessor, in some respects, the advantages which hands give to man. With it he breaks off the branches from trees, divides them into convenient portions, and puts them into his mouth. The extremity of it is provided with a moveable orifice, which acts as a finger and thumb; and with it he can pick up out of the sand the most minute silver coin, and place it in the hand of his keeper as he sits upon his back. By its means he supplies himself with water, which, on being wounded, he will squirt into his wounds. When oppressed with heat, he gathers up earth with a fold of his trunk, and throws it repeatedly over his back to refresh his sunburnt body. The eye of the elephant is extremely small in proportion to his size, and he can see but to a very short distance. He has no fore-teeth in either jaw, and the proboscis, which is the nostrils extended, projects from the upper jaw, the lower one terminating in a point. The legs are nearly of an equal thickness from the thigh to the toes or nails, the only marks which distinguish the feet; the latter are round, and tender at the sole, where the Veddahs in the interior of Ceylon are said occasionally to lame the elephant with arrows, and thus eventually destroy it, as the Caffres of South Africa constantly do with their light spears, or asseghais. The skin looks bare, the grisly hairs being thinly scattered over its surface. The hairs of the tail are of the thickness of a porcupine's quill; when polished they are quite black, and being set in gold clasps, in single rows, make handsome bracelets. The tail is carried off as a trophy by the successful elephant-shooter, as well as the tusks, if the animal have any. The female is said, by Cuvier, to go twenty months with young, by Aristotle and Buffon, two years ; but the personal observation of John Morse Scott, Esq., formerly Resident at Tipperah in Bengal, confirms the statement of Cuvier. (Vide Edinburgh Encyclopaedia - Elephant.)

The elephant requires many years to attain its full growth, and lives far beyond the period assigned to man. The udder of the female is placed between the fore-legs, and consists of two dugs, one on each side of the breast, hanging down in the shape of inverted cones. They propagate like other animals, but very rarely breed in a tamed state. Their senses of smelling and hearing are wonderfully acute ; and seem in some measure to compensate their dimness of sight. The elephant-shooter on approaching his game, is consequently obliged to keep well to leeward, as he will scent a man at a considerable distance to windward of him. His hide is of amazing thickness, and will flatten a leaden ball; it is consequently necessary to use bullets made of a mixture of pewter and lead - brass and iron ones are sometimes employed. The hollow part in the centre of the forehead offers the largest vulnerable mark, and that usually selected by the sportsman, but there is also a smaller one over each eye and behind the ears ; through either of these a well-directed ball will reach the brain, when the animal falls dead instantaneously. The Dutch boers at the Cape frequently select the soft part under the fore-arm as the point of attack, whereby the heart may be reached, whilst the shooter is less exposed to danger than in confronting his gigantic opponent. In the latter case, if he miss his aim, or his gun miss fire, his situation is most critical, and wonderful have been the "hair-breadth 'scapes" within the author's knowledge, and which would scarcely be credited if related here. Several elephant-shooters have also lost their lives in these encounters, within the same period, but these accidents had never much effect in deterring others from pursuing this most noble and exciting of all field-sports.