Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/41

HUNTING AND CATCHING WILD ELEPHANTS ing that is often repeated and that is that " It takes a year and the life of a man to break an elephant to burden."

The greatest dread of the trappers is that the incoming herd may run across a tiger and be stampeded. In spite of its large bulk and strength the elephant is afraid of the great cat. The temptation to kill a baby elephant often proves too great for the royal tiger, and fearful battles ensure ; for the elephant will protect its young from enemies with great bravery. If the outskirts of the herd are attacked the beasts are liable to scatter and become so panic-stricken that the old bull may not be able to get them together again for some days.

Who tamed the first elephant is not known. On the wall carvings of the temples in India, built thousands of years ago, are to be found pictures of elephants with men upon their backs. Furthermore, elephants were used in Babylon and Syria, and history tells us that there were great herds in the armies of Alexander the Great and Hannibal. Again, elephants frequently fought other animals in the Roman arenas. The elephant is also a valued servant of the British army in India. Two of these great creatures will carry a mountain battery, wheels, carriage, gun and ammunition, over rough ground where no roads exist, nor horses can travel, but it is said that when the firing begins the elephant trembles and will not move forward an inch, and it has to be kept well in the rear.

Elephants do all manner of heavy work in India, and at times it seems foolish to have any man in charge, for the great creatures manage themselves so well. On many occasions they have shown that they have greater wisdom than their " marhouts " or drivers.

An Indian resident told the writers that he had seen an old elephant that worked in a lumber yard, stacking great loads of teak wood. The elephant would get down on its knees and putting its tusks under a log would move, back and forth, until it got it exactly balanced. It would rise to its feet and slowly and gently carry the log to the pile. After it had placed the log in position it would go around to the end and cock its eye along to see if it were straight. If the log was out of plump the elephant would push it here and there with its head until it was satisfied.

The elephant has a very tender skin, for so large an animal, and unless it is properly harnessed it will get "back-sore" in no time. Flies and mosquitoes cause it much worry too, and this leads the elephant to put wet mud on its back as protection. Above all things the elephant loves water, and it is a wonderful sight to see a large number in together. The beast is a splendid