THE VERY YOUNG ELEPHANTS ARE HELD OVER THE SURFACE OF THE WATER. (SEE PAGE 44.) the log along; or, to move the log any great distance, he will encircle it with a chain - using his trunk for that purpose and drag his load behind him. As a rule, however, the work of dragging is done by the female elephants, since, having no tusks, they can not carry logs as the male elephants do. A man could hardly display more judgment in the adjustment of the rope or chain around a log, nor could a man with his two hands tie and untie knots more skillfully than do they with their trunks. In some parts of India the elephant is used to drag the plow, and, though it seems from its great supposed from a mere look at its bulky body. Any one who has seen its performances in the menagerie will, however, be able to comprehend that fact. It is owing to its combined docility, intelligence, strength, and suppleness that it is enabled to perform the extraordinary tasks imposed upon it tasks which range between two such extremes as child's nurse and public executioner. It is not often, perhaps, that the elephant acts in the latter capacity, but in the former it frequently does,ably, too, for the monstrous beast seems to have a natural affection for babies, whether human or otherwise. away. If the baby cried, the giant nurse would rock the cradle until the little thing slept. Nor are only the female elephants so affectionate with the helpless little ones; the male animals are equally kind. Perhaps this is because the fathers as well as the mothers among the wild elephants have the care of the elephant babies. Mr. C. F. Holder contributes several interesting incidents in this connection. In a paper on the subject he says: "How the young elephants, in the large herds, escape from being crushed, is something of a mystery, as they are almost continually in motion; but when a herd is alarmed, the young almost immediately disappear. A close observer would see that each baby was trotting AN ELEPHANT BATTERY. (SEE PAGE 44.) In India, where the elephant is treated by his mahout almost as one of the family, the grateful animal makes a return for the kindness shown it by voluntarily taking care of the baby. It will patiently permit itself to be mauled by its little charge, and will show great solicitude when the child cries. Sometimes the elephant will become so attached to its baby friend as to insist upon its constant presence. Such a case is known where the elephant went so far as to refuse to eat except in the presence of its little friend. Its attachment was so genuine that the child's parents would not hesitate to leave the baby in the elephant's care, knowing that it could have no more faithful nurse. And the kindly monster never belied the trust reposed in it. If the flies came about the baby, it would drive them AN ELEPHANT CARRYING A CANNON. along directly beneath its mother, sometimes between her fore legs, and in various positions; and so careful are the great mothers and fathers, that even while a herd is charging, the little ones are never crushed or stepped upon. "On the march, when a little elephant is born in a herd, they stop a day or two to allow it time to exercise its little limbs and gain strength, and then they press on, the mothers and babies in front, the old tuskers following in the rear, but ready to rush forward at the first alarm. When rocky or hilly places are reached, the little ones are helped up by the mothers, who push them from behind and in various ways; but when a river has to be forded or swum, a comical sight ensues. "The stream may be very rapid and rough, as AN AMMUNITION CARRIER. the Indian rivers often are after a rain, and at such a place the babies would hardly be able to keep up with the rest; so the mothers and fathers help them. At first all plunge boldly in-both young and old - and when the old elephants reach deep water, where they have to swim, the young scramble upon their backs and sit astride, sometimes two being seen in this position. But the very young elephants often require a little more care and attention, so they are held either upon the tusks of the father or grasped in the trunk of the mother, and held over or just at the surface of the water. Such a sight is a curious one, to say the leastthe great elephants almost hidden beneath the water, here and there a young one seemingly walking on the water, resting upon a submerged back, or held aloft while the dark waters roar below." For hundreds and hundreds of years - thousands even - the elephant has been trained for the use of man, though in those long ago times it was used chiefly for fighting purposes. Now, the strength and sagacity of the huge animal are for the most part employed for peaceful ends. In British Burmah, however, the British army has an elephant battery of twenty-two elephants. On four of the elephants are carried cannon; twelve carry ammunition, four carry tools, and two are kept in reserve for emergencies. The elephants are as regularly drilled in their maneuvers as the human soldiers, and, it may be said, make as few mistakes. These elephants are also made to go through a weekly swimming drill; but for this part of their duties they seem, strangely enough, to have a dislike. The mahout in consequence has very often a hard time of it during swimming drill; for right in the midst of it an elephant may decide to consult his own pleasure, and will rush from the water, in spite of every effort of the mahout. The wonder is that the elephant does not oftener take advantage of its prodigious strength to break loose from its bondage. Fear of the sharp-pointed hook, which the mahout always carries, is probably one reason for its submission; but the habit of implicit obedience which it learns has a great deal to do with it. If the elephant were not so trustworthy, its usefulness would be greatly impaired for hundreds of tasks which it now performs. This would be the case particularly in carrying travelers on its back through the forests, where the desire for freedom would naturally be very strong. Occasionally, however, an elephant will have a fit of bad temper, and will be as savage as if it had never been tamed. At such times it is securely chained and kept so until the fit is over. Few accounts of the elephant show it to be otherwise than gentle and kindly in disposition; and most persons who have had experience with it are enthusiastic in its praise. Mr. Forbes, for example, in his "Oriental Memoirs," says of his elephant: "Nothing could exceed the sagacity, docility, and affection of this noble quadruped. If I stopped to enjoy a prospect, he remained perfectly immovable until my sketch was finished. If I wished for ripe mangoes growing out of the common reach, he selected the most fruitful branch, and breaking it off with his trunk, gave it to his driver to be handed to me; accepting of any part given to himself with a respectful salaam, by raising his trunk three times above his head in the manner of the Oriental obeisance, and as often did he express his thanks by a murmuring noise. . . "No spaniel could be more innocent or playful, or fonder of those who noticed him than this docile animal." |