KRAAL is the term used in Ceylon for the en closure into which, when fresh elephants are required in Ceylon, a herd of wild ones is driven. In the continent of India, the enclosure is called a Kheda. The kraal is made in some spot con venient to the districts in which the elephants are supposed to be. The mudliar or headmen of these districts are required to find a certain num ber of coolies as beaters. These are formed into a cordon, surrounding the elephant district. The circle is gradually contracted, the coolies advanc ing slowly by day, beating the jungle as they go, and lighting watchfires by night. The elephants are thus driven towards the kraal, into which they are eventually enticed by decoying elephants placed there for the purpose. Once within the enclosure, strong ropes are skilfully passed round their legs, and then fastened to the largest trees. There the elephant remains until he is subdued and partially tamed by hunger and fatigue, after which he is gradually liberated, and his education commences. Cordiner gives graphic descriptions of the grand kraals ho witnessed at the begin ning of the 19th century near Tangallo and No gombo, where scores of elephants were enclosed in parks of labyrinthine passages, many of them being drowned in the water snare. The parallel ogram on one occasion was about 240 feet on each side, so that the area was 6400 square yards.
Tho wings were not more than 200 feet in length. The engraving in Tennent's Work (5th edition, ii. p. 340) gives an excellent idea of a Kandian kraal, its form and the principles on which it is constructed. Vacant spaces are left for two elephants to stand at each corner, which it is understood will rush forward towards the entrance the moment the elephants enter the enclosure, and cover with their protection the men employed in putting up the barricades. Cross rear lines are drawn through the jungle, when the beaters are satisfied that the elephants are in front; and as the drive nears the kraal, the cordon of beaters is drawn closer and closer until at last it closes in on the elephants and they have no choice but to break through the line or enter the kraal. Many of them do break through the line. On one occa sion an elephant broke through the kraal, fairly raising up a portion of the palisades, cross beams, jungle vines, and all, with his tusks, and, scatter ing the watchers to right and left, rushed up to the palisade, seized a peeled wand pointed at him by a Koralle, and broke it over the man's arm and bead, inflicting severe bruises. ' But this animal was manfully resisted and turned back.—Frere's Antipodes, p. 185. See Elephant ; Kheda.