Page:Siam and Laos, as seen by our American missionaries (1884).pdf/495

 being that there is a railing in front which extends a third of the way across from each side, leaving an opening in the centre. The person who is so fortunate as to secure the middle seat is as comfortable as though seated in a chair, having the elephant's back as a footstool, but those sitting on either side have to assume the position taken when seated on the floor. The howdahs for carrying burdens have no coverings.

It is exceedingly interesting to watch the elephants when drawing logs from the river. The teak logs are floated down from the forests, and the elephants haul them on to land. An elephant is chained to a log, which he drags to its destination, and after he is unchained he quietly picks up his chain and walks to the river again. After bringing up the logs he is very careful that they shall lie entirely even, and if any end projects he pushes it with his tusks until his trained eye can see no fault. The air with which he moves back and forth from the river is very amusing; he seems to say, "I understand my business." The baby-elephant is a most mischievous creature, and is the horror of market-*women, because he often insists upon meddling with the contents of their baskets.

The holiday which most interests the missionaries' children is the New Year, when all, and especially the young, give themselves up to a pecu