“Thank you, Uncle Thomas.  I see, I was quite wrong in supposing that the ants are of no use.  I really did not imagine that they could have been so serviceable.”

CHAPTER III.

     Uncle Thomas describes the Manner in which Wild Elephants are
     caught, and relates some Curious Stories of the Cunning, Affection,
     and Intelligence of the Elephant.

“Well, Boys, you are once more welcome!—­I am going to tell you some stories about the Elephant to-night, which I hope will interest you quite as much as those which I told you about the dog.  Next to the dog the elephant is one of the most intelligent animals; some of his actions, indeed, seem to be rather the result of reason than mere instinct.  But I must first tell you about the animal in its native forests.

“In the luxuriant forests with which a large portion of Asia is covered, this huge animal reigns supreme.  Its size and strength easily enable it to overcome the most formidable opponents.  The intelligence with which it has been endowed by its Creator would make it a most formidable enemy to man, but that the same All-wise Being has graciously endowed it with peaceful and gentle feelings.  In its native forests it roams about without seeking to molest any one, and even when caught and tamed it very soon becomes gentle and obedient.

“In the East Indies the elephant is in very general use as a beast of burden.  For this purpose it is hunted and caught in great numbers by the Natives, who employ some very ingenious devices to deceive them, and to drive them into the ambuscades which they form for them.  The manner in which whole herds are captured is as follows:—­

“When the herd is discovered by parties who are sent out for the purpose of reconnoitering, they take notice of the direction in which it is ranging, and as, if their food is plentiful, they generally continue to advance in one direction for miles together, the hunters construct, at a considerable distance in front, a series of enclosures, into which it is their object to drive them.

“When every thing is prepared, the hunters, sometimes to the number of several hundreds, divide themselves into small parties, and form a large circle, so as to surround the herd.  Each party generally consists of three men, whose duty it is to light a fire and to clear a footpath between their station and that of their neighbours, so that in this way a communication is kept up by the whole circle, and assistance can at once be afforded at any given point.

“New circles are constantly formed at short distances in advance, so as gradually to drive the animals in the required direction.  The hunters are all the while concealed by the luxuriant jungle, and do not show themselves to the elephants at all, but urge them forward by the use of drums, rattles, &c. &c., from the noise of which the animals seek to escape, and thus wander on, feeding as they proceed toward the toils which are prepared for them.