As soon as the elephants make their appear- ance from the Malabar side, intelligence is con- veyed to the Darogah (the chief hunter) by the Mulsas, who are a diminutive wild race of men living entirely in the jungles, and particularly clever in tracing these animals in their route, which is invariably along the base of the Hills to Mysore. The herd is then surrounded by about three hundred of the Ryots, care being taken to leave the animals an abundant supply of water, without which, it is impossible to pre- vent their breaking through the lines. About two hundred tank-diggers are then employed in making the Coopum, which consists of a circu- lar ditch of one hundred yards diameter, eight feet wide, and nine deep ; the entrance to it is the most beaten track to be found in the thick- est part of the jungle. To guide the animals to AND NEILGHE11RY HILLS. 4] this, a strong line of hedges is made, to the ex^ tent of about three hundred yards in length, on each side, diverging from the entrance ; this is called the Kye-coopum. When all is completed, in doing which a month or more is consumed, the Polygar chiefs of the district, who are bound to assist on these occa- sions, are called in, accompanied by their follow-