Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-08-04
Elephants of the East.


A Lerson who has never seen a
wild elephant can form no idea Of
his real character, either mentally or
physically. The unwidely aud
sleepy looking beast, who, penncd up
.. 80 naea -. .,.nnnuerie. .@.nivcs
"A sixpence in his trunk, and turns
with difficulty to deposit in a box
whose mental powers seem 10 he
concentrated in the idea OF receiv-
ing buns tossed into gaping mouth
by chIldten's hands tins very beast
may have come from a warlike stock
HIS sire may have been terror OF a
district, pliiess hIghwayman. whose
soul ihirsted for blood. who, Wing in
wait IN some thick bush, would rush
upon the unwary passer by, and
know no pleasure greater Than the
act OF crushing his victim to a shape
less mass beneath his feet. have
heard people exclaim, upon hearing
anecdotes of elephant hunting, Poor
things = Poor things, indeed |
should like TO see the very person
who thus expresses his pity, going al
his best pace with savage elephant
after him give him lawn To run
upon it he likes, and SEE the elephant
gainln- foot in every yard OF the
chase. fire IN his eyes, fury IN his
headiong charge; aud would not that
man who lately exclaimed " Poor
thing !" be thankful 10 the lucky
bullet that would save him from de-
structIon
There are no animals more mis-
understood than elephants; they are
naturally savage. wary and revengful,
displaying as great courage when IN
their wild state as any animal known.
The fact OF their great natural sagac-
ny renders them The more da ngerous
as foes. Even when they are tanned,
there are many that are not safe for
stranger TO approach, aud they are
then only kept IN awe by the sharp
driving-hook Of the nohout.
Elephants are gregarlods, aud the
average number Of herd is about
eight, although they frequently form
bodies of fifty aud OF even eighty IN
one troop. Each herd consists of
very large proportion OF females, and
they are constantly met without
single bull in their number. have
seen some small herds formed excIu-
sIvely of bulls, but this is very rare.
The bull Is much larger than the fe-
male, aud generally more savage
Ills habits frequently induce him To
prefer solitude 10 a gregarlous life
lie then becomes dOubly Vicious
tie seldom strays many miles from
one locality, which he haunts Tor
many years. He becomes what is
termed rouge lie then way.
lays The natives, aud Ia fact becot es
a scourge to The Beishborhood, al
lacking the lnofiensIye without the
slightest provocalion, carrying desiruc-
ton TO the natives paddy fields, and
perfectly regardless of nighlfires or
the usual precautions for soaring
wild beasts. The daring pluck of
these rogues is only equaled by their
extreme cunning. Endowed with
that wonderful power of scent pecu-
liar To elephants, he travels in the
day time down the wind thus moth
ing can follow upon his track with
out his knowledge. He winds his
enemy as the cautious hunter advan-
ces noiselessly upon his track, and he
stands with ears thrown forward, tail
erect, trunk thrown high in the air,
with its dislended tip pointed To the
spot from which he expects the silent |
but approaching danger. Perfectly
does he stand, like a statue
in ebony, the very essence OF alien
ton, every nerve Of sense and hear |
ing stretched TO its cracking point
not ID, sole moves, not a sound of |
a rushing branch against his rough |
sides he is mute figure of wild /
~ g.. S..-------- a ------L:i- 10 1
wary ,racker sioops 10 the ground,
aud with pracrlced eye pierces the
tangled brushwood in search of his
feet. Still further and fur
Their he creeps forward, when sudden
ly crash bursts through the Jungle,
the moment has arrived for the am
pushed charge. and the elephant Is
upon him. From The Rife and The
Hound in Ceyton.