11
the elbow. An animal wounded in this spot does not, as a rule, go far. A good
and accurate rifle is necessary for shooting these beasts. In charging, the head
is held high ; aim a foot or more lower down than when in the natural position.
Since writing this note, I have, through a friend who has just returned
from Siam, received a few notes. The object of his visit was to try and purchase
some good timber elephants, and he started for that country from Da-Gwin
on the Salween. He visited all the large Laos States,—viz., Chengmai, Lampoon
Lakon, Moung-Prai, and Moung-Nan. In the Baw-Le-Yua district, four
marches from Da-Gwin and two from Moung-Haut on the Me-Ping, he found
that elephants were plentiful, and that they were mostly engaged in carrying
iron ore to the smeltery, and were nearly all females and accustomed to
baggage work. The owners were not keen on selling, but the average price
would be about Rs. 800. The people in this district go in for breeding elephants,
as I have already noted.
Almost all the tuskers are in the hands of the chiefs ; ordinary individuals
cannot keep them long. If they get a chance, they smuggle them into Burma,
where they always fetch good prices.
With but few exceptions the drivers are Burmans or Kamoos (a labouring
class who come from across the Mekong, somewhere near Luang-Prabang). By
all accounts the Siamese appear to surpass the Burmese in their dislike for work.
There are professional elephant-catchers in the Mekong valley ; they bring
the animals when tamed into Luang-Prabang, from which place many are
brought down country.
In most of the villages, or rather outside, is a place for training young
elephants: this is a large shed in which, there is a " crush " built with stout posts
some six feet high, and placed some little distance apart. The young animal is
driven in at the wide end : he walks down a little way, till he finds he is getting
into a corner ; but before he can turn, cross bars are run in behind. When he gets
to the far end he finds himself wedged in. Cross bars are then placed behind
and under the beast, the former to prevent backing, and the latter to stop
attempts at lying down. The trainer then climbs up, and jumps on the back of
the animal, who cannot throw him off. This performance is repeated until such
time as the elephant does not mind a man riding on his back. The next step
is to teach him to drag. These lessons are usually carried out on sandbanks or
other soft places. The young one and a well-trained elephant are taken down ;
tandem dragging gear is put on, the old animal with a man up going as leader. A
large plank is now fixed on behind for them to pull; as soon as the leader starts,
the young one jibs and roars, but the old one keeps on a steady strain. The
youngster often lies down, but in a very short time he learns that resistance is of
no avail. Training is usually started between the ages of six and ten years.
From the notes given I understand that elephants are very plentiful in most
parts of Siam, that they are nearly all trained to baggage work, and the people
find plenty for them to do, and so are not too keen to dispose of them, but will
readily do so if they are offered anything reasonable above the average price.
The animals that would be for sale would be mostly females ; in size they
are about the same as those met with here.
The gear employed by the Siamese would be useless for Government purpose.
Prices vary a good deal according to the state of trade.
If Chengmai (Zimme) was taken as a centre, at least one hundred good
baggage animals might be purchased within three months, at prices ranging from
Rs. 800 to Rs. 1,300
RANGOON;
2nd October 1894.
G. C. Press, Simla.—No. 8 Q. M. G , 1. B.-30-5-95 —40.