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loose to graze. There is nothing I know of more conducive to keeping these
creatures in good health, and it is quite the best treatment for sickly and debil-
itated animals. To prevent straying, a couple of heavy chains ought to be wound
round the legs, just above the pads, or a few turns of a heavy chain should be
put round a hind leg, and the long free end allowed to draggle behind. When the
feet are closely hobbled, they cannot move about enough to obtain good
grazing. Karens Burmans, and Shans simply hobble with the light cane
fetters which allows of their straying a bit : they at times use the long chain
on the hind leg. A large bell or clapper is suspended from the neck, as in the
jungle, where usually ali is still. The sounds of these bells can be heard some
distance off, and thus time and trouble are saved in bringing them in. Govern-
ment elephants being kept in an artificial state, their diet must be modified and
supplemented. At times much energy is demanded of them, and a shorter time
is given them to repair the loss than if they were wild, so it is necessary to
supply them with increased nourishment without undue stimulation. For this
purpose a daily allowance of twenty to thirty pounds of rice or paddy (unhusked
rice) should be given, and it is better to give the latter crushed. They
should also receive a fair ration of salt ; it does them good. Wild animals con-
stantly visit the salt-licks. Wheaten flour made into cakes and sweetened with
common sugar is much relished; onions, tamarind pulp, etc., may also with ad-
vantage be incorporated in the cakes : they ought to be given after the ordinary
rations.
One or more of the following plants are procurable in most places :—
Vernacular names.
1. Kaing ...
2. Hsen-ngo-myet
3. Nyoung-baw-de
4. Nyoung-chedauk
5. Nyoung-gyat
6. Wa-nga-chut
7. Salu or thalu
8. Ok-shit-thee
9. Pein-nai ...
10. Kyoo ...
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Botanical names.
Saccharum Spontaneum.
Eleusine Indica.
Ficus Religiosa.
Ficus Benjaminoides.
Ficus Cordifolia.
Bambusa Spinosa.
Licuala Peltata.
Ægle Marmelos.
Artocarpus Integrifolius.
Arundo Madagascariensis.
The stalks and leaves of the banana, pineapple plants, young shoots of
the bamboo, sugarcane, etc., are all readily eaten and thoroughly enjoyed by
these creatures.
Early morning and evening are the proper times to supply fresh fodder; if
they have work to do, the food ought to be given before and after it.
Watering.—Elephants are most particular about their drinking-water, and
always like to drink from a stream or other running water. In the wild state,
they drink when they are taking their bath, viz., in the early morning and
evening ; they at times also drink and bathe in the day—in fact, they enjoy taking
to water at any hour.
Occasionally, on the march, the pools about contain water only fit for
bathing purposes. Under these circumstances some of the water set aside for the
use of the camp should be drawn and supplied to them, otherwise they will
drink their fill of the stagnant stuff at the bathing place.
It is necessary that domestic animals be bathed at least once a day,
otherwise they are certain to fall ill. If there are no pools where the animals
can bathe, water must be drawn and thrown over them, while the mahawuts rub
their bodies with pumice-stone or a brick. Burmans are most careful in attend-
ing to this detail ; they are fully aware that it is natural to their existence, and
that continued want of a bath soon brings on skin irritation and general indis-
position. When marching, it can do the animals no harm to drink a small quan-
tity of water when they are thirsty, but they ought not to be permitted to throw
it over themselves when heated.