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proper preservation of the efficiency of the animals committed to their charge.
They must remember that the class of men usually employed with transport,
if left to themselves, are, from general indolence, carelessness, or from a desire
to avoid the fatigue and hardships of a campaign, quite liable to render their
animals unserviceable. Ample supervision enables the carrying out of systematic
checks against carelessness, and, still more, of checks to malpractices. A little
neglect will often deprive a force of the valuable services of many animals.
Purchasing.—To begin with, it will perhaps be as well to mention the
points of a healthy elephant.
The animal is in constant motion, with the ears flapping, and the tail and
trunk swinging to and fro. The skin is almost black, and the bristles cover
ing the body are firm to the touch ; the light-coloured spots on the head and
trunk are of a pinkish colour; the eye is bright and clear, pulse from 48 to 50
per minute ; mucous membranes of mouth, etc., are of a beautiful pink colour ; the
back is free from scars ; a moist secretion exudes around and above the nails,
and is easily seen by throwing a little dust on the parts; the pads are hard, and
free from tenderness ; any signs of the latter may readily be detected, as the
tender patches are smooth and of a yellowish pink colour. If the appetite is
good, the animal sleeps for a few hours every night, and on waking commences
to feed.
The signs of ill-health are general languor, the skin looks greyish in colour,
as also do the spots on the head and trunk ; the mucous membranes are pale or
deep red, with or without dark blotches on the palate ; pulse is abnormal, appetite
is lost ; the animal does not take proper rest ; eyes are dull, and there is frequently
a copious flow of tears ; there is usually fever, and the animal may be out of condi-
tion. As with other things, when buying elephants the purchaser should not be
in a hurry, as his bargains may not afterwards prove to be all he desired. A little
time should be taken to ascertain the idiosyncracies of the beast about to be
bought. The manner in which the keeper goes about his charge should be noted.
Some animals are very full of tricks, and if not approached to their liking, may
attack a new keeper, or if timid be scared for ever. The animal should be
marched about and the pads carefully inspected after exercise ; it is a common
thing to fill up holes in the pads with stopping.
Burmans look upon elephants with certain habits with superstitious dread ;
such creatures may be bought at very moderate figures. An elephant showing a
peculiar general restlessness of the body, somewhat after the manner of a bear,
is much dreaded as also is a creature that has the habit of swinging his trunk
only to the right and left.
The height of elephants is measured in cubits. The cubit is about twenty
inches.
With regard to age, the appearance of an old animal is as follows :—The head
is lean, deep hollows are present over the eyes, there is frequently a certain
amount of opacity around the margin of the corneæ (Arcus senilis), and an
abnormal flow of tears. The edges of the ears are torn and frayed ; the skin of the
trunk is rough, something like shark-skin ; the trunk itself seems to have lost a
certain amount of its suppleness; the skin over the body is much shrivelled ; the
tail is hard, and the end may be devoid of hair ; the skin around the nails presents
a rough or warty appearance ; the legs are thinner than they ought to be. Other
indications of age are, the general appearance, and an awkward mode of progres-
sion, etc. A rough guess at the age may be made by observing the condition
of the ears, the upper edges of which lap over to the extent of an inch at the age
of thirty, which increases to two inches between this age and sixty years. The
teeth also afford some information as to probable age ; it is, however, most difficult
to determine with any degree of certainty the age of these animals.
In this country, notes must be taken of every mark of identification, as
" elephant-lifting" about the frontier is a popular and very remunerative indus-
try. In the jungles, after the day's work is finished, the Burmese forestors gene-
rally put cane fetters on their animals, suspend a bell or wooden clapper from
their necks, and then turn them loose to graze; they do not keep any watch over