The Press.
London, England, 1858-02-06 00:00:00

river. This plan gave them too much liberty, for,
as some chose to indulge in a roll and bath in the

shallow water after their voyage, time was lost be
fore the drivers could manage to lead them away.
It was therefore found more convenient and expedi-
tious to lower each elephant into a barge alongside
the ship, and to land him afterwards by hauling the
barge the short distance to the shore :
When about to be removed from the ship, each animal
was brought under the main hatchway, the opening of
which had of course been lengthened and widened so as
to admit of their descent when they were embarked at
Moulmein. Each elephant on board had a mahout, or
driver, and a coolie, or servant, for feeding and cleaning
him. To these men they had become accustomed, and
were greatly subjected to their influence. The elephant's
mahout, assisted by the Ballots, arranged a strong canvas
sling, or girth, edged with strong rope, round the
animal's carcase, and the tickle being adjusted, the
huge fellow was slowly raised off his feet, and
the ascent was commenced. One of the largest was
said to weigh 3 tons 2i cwt. There was no opposi-
tion to the process of hoisting on the part of the ani-
mals, with one or two exceptions; indeed, for the most
part they appeared anxious each to have his turn as soon
as possible, for they had sagacity enough to understand it
was the means of quitting the ship. as it had been the
means of bringing them into it. There was great excite-
ment among the crowd on shore when the boatswain's
whistle was heard directing the sailors at the capstan to
hoist away, and as the fells or hoisting-ropes. which were
connected with the main and mizen masts of the ship,
became strained and tightened, presently the rough, inert-
looking mass of the animal's spine and back was seen
above the deck ; then bait of the head, with which the
animal from time to time prevented himself from being
struck against the sides of the hatchway as he swung round
on either side; the small sluggish eye, which seemed to
be calmly surveying the surrounding scene ; the active
proboscis, forming by its constant movements a remark-
able contrast with the rest of the passive frame; and,
finally, after the crane-tackle had been connected, the
whole creature came into view, dangling in the air, and sus-
pended by a couple of ropes which seemed like mere
threads compared with the size of the animal which
depended from them. He was then swung over the bul-
warks, and lowered into the batge alongside. It was
amusing to observe the quiet way in which the animal
avoided the blow when his feet or legs were likely to strike
against the side of the ship, and the way in which he
assisted in taking off the strain of the ropes and raising
himself when being passed over the bulwarks to make his
descent into the lighter. One is hardly led to anticipate
much adroitness from inch a bulky creature, not merely
on account of its size, but also because its dull-looking
loose hide conceals, in a great degrt e, that evidence of life
and passion which, in the horse, and most other animals,
is so strongly marked by starting veins and the rapid mus-
cular movements of its whole body. As soon as the
elephant was in the lighter, the mahout, who bad got down
before him, at once jumped on his neck, and the animal
immediately yielded himself to the direction of his accus-
tomed master. Sometimes he would appear a little ner-
vous, putting his trunk into the water to try its depth,
with a view, perhaps, to ascertaining if it were possible to
walk ashore ; but generally he began turning over some
of the fresh grass placed in the bottom of the boat to
divert his attention, and remained quiet until the boat was
brought as near the ground of the dockyard as possible.
Then at a signal from the mahout, after again leaning
over and carefully testing the depth of water with his pro-
boscis, he slowly raised one huge foot over the boat's side,
then the other, and in a few minutes he was on his way
to the place where the rest of his companions were
picketed.
It is generally reported, says the Englishman, that
the Nana Sahib has been taken prisoner. He was in
disguise, but as he is so well known to many officers,
his identity can be readily proved ; the two brothers
should be sent down to Cslcutta.
Several private letters of extreme interest have
arrived by the last mail : we extract a few portions.
One. officer, who accompanied Sir Cohn Campbell's
force, writing from Alurnbagh, gives the following
account of the loot in Lucknow :
Our troops, on their entry into Lucknow for the relief,
got an immense quantity of loot in the shape of precious
stones and stuffs, the crown jewels among others, and a
portion of these was secured by same soldiers. However,
when it became known, a peremptory order was imme-
diately published by the general, calling upon men and
officers to give up any loot in their possession, in default
to subject themselves to trial by court-martial and dis-
missal from the service. He sail that as the prize-money,
he hoped, was eventually to be divided among the troops,
it would be unfair in any persons or individuals to appro-
priate any potion of the plunder, and thus detract from
the value of the others' definite shares. The jewels alone
are valued at fifty lacs of rupees, equal in English money
to fstio,taßli. sterling. Then, in addition to this, were
valuable shawls, gold and silver ornaments, ivory, weapons
with jewelled handles and splendid scabbards, guns,
pistols, tulwars (swords), curiosities of all kinds, and an
immense assortment of niiscellane3us articles and china
Some of the inferior articles were sold at prize auctions
during the siege, and fetched fabulous prices, everybody
was so anxious to take away with them some memento of
Lucknow. The most valuable things were .taken away
under escorts when we retreated, and many will eventually
be sold in Calcutta. I have got a few things which, if I
can manage to keep till all is quiet, I will send home. I
never saw such a collection of china in my life et the
largest shops at home as in Lucknow, and of such visite!).
pad value. looms after rooms crammed with that splendid
old china from large rases to small coffee cups; other