Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-10-23

an age Of upwards of two hundred
years; but when tanned, not much more
than one hundred and twenty. 1T
size is various; those of Ceylon AMI
Tara are small and seldom have tusks
A hunter Of great experience told m,
that in Ceylon scarcely two in a hun
dred have .usks. AS soon as an ele
phant thus armed is caught, the create
! portion Of his tusks are sawn off, ane
the extremities Of what remains are en-.
cased with gold or silver. The lar
gest animals that came under my OBJ
servation belonged to the governor gen.
eral, the maharajah Of Lahore, the king
of Dude, and the rajahs Of Bhuripool
| and A]war, and these were about eiev-
enfeet hige. They were also more a
gi'e. and Of greater endurance and sa-
gacity than is usual. Such an animal
would cost about 5000 rupees, whilst
one Of seven feet high can be had for
a thousand. The ordinary elephant,
having FIVE times the strength Ola cam ).
el, is employed in the army TO bear not
only the chief persons and the sick, but
also the tents and furniture. 1t cal,
likewise be quite as serviceably employ
ed as a draught beast, sinceit can pull
with the greatest ease what ten horses
have scarcely power to move. The
English have, in consequence, recently
yoled il their carriages with the best
result. On the other hand, it is very
difficultto induce the elephant to cross
a river, for when he enters it is not ca
sy to guide him in the proper direction,
and he sinks so low that only the tip of
his proboscis, which helifis on such an
occasion as high as possible, is visi-
BILE. 1.-The has to cross bridge of
boats, or piece of fenny land, he as
certains the safety of his path by
means of his trunk, and before he sets
his foot down, he tests the strength Of
the support. 10 testify his pleasure,
he lifts his trunk pependicularIy up
wards, and his mahoud teaches him to
raise his trunk and fall on his knees
when he comes into the presence of a
great man. In tiger hunting the ele-
plant is especially useful, not only for
carriage but for defence. The chase
takes place in the thick overgrown jun
giles, where il would be impossible for
horsemen and persons on foot to pen
citrate through bushes and reeds six
teen feet high, and over swampy
ground. The months of April and
May are most favourable for hunting,
because then the tiger seeks his food
more darlngly, approaching the abodes
of men for the purpose of carrying off
the cattle, and thus he is more easy TO
be met with. Each sportsman takes
two rifles of a stronger make in his
houdah, and the gunner takes the place
of the servant. A large party is usu-
ally made up for tiger hunt, and the
elephants are carefully selected with re-
ference to previous experience and eff
cheney. AS soon as the tiger is track
ed to his lair, he endeavors to sink
away, but he stands upon his defence
the moment shot touches him; and
when wounded, be sends out terrific
roar, showing a: the same time his
teeth Everything depends at this pc
Rod ofthe tumult upon the elephant
not turning his back on his antagonist.
Most elephants show great skill in de-
Tending themselves with their trunk, SC
as to give the sportsman time to lodge
another ball. The elephant lnanifests
great delight when the tiger is killed,
and experienced hunters have assured
me that he becomes holder and more
active with his victories. When the
hunter quits his elephant, and leaves
him to contend with the tiger alone, il
is difficult to make him useful after.
wards. AS soon rs the elephant is
freed from his burden, a stake is driven
F! into the earth to which a forefoot is fas-
tened by a chain. Upon occasions O
fes,iyity, the mahouds take much pains
so paint his head and trunk with ara.
besque designs in white, yellow, OF
blue. They bestow great attention or
the animal confded to their care.
A mahoud never curtails. an e.
ephant Of his food, or leaves him entire.
" without support. The tent in which
he, his wife, and children are lodged i
placed near the elephant, SO that the
animal almost lives with them. While
the mahoud cooks cake Of kascadec
-four upon an iron plate, his charge
stands patiently by until the cake i
cool, and then he receives bis susie
nance out ofthe hands of the family
The elephant is passionately fond q
| the sugar cane. One Of the beasts
! which were fed to-day upon canes
quitesost all patience when he saw his