Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-04-27
IlIsrcIloltcol.s.
INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL.
A Sportsman II India.

WIFE me to India, where field recye9ti0us.
III the way Of extirpatine wild animals.
were of more serious kind than | had
been accustomed to. Not at all caunted
/ became expert at hunting the iackal
the leopard and the tiger I had fre
qnently heard Of elephant catching. and
resolved to enjoy that noble sport also
secure the accomplishment of my
wishes. L sought an intimacy with the
most expert hunter; and the little knowl
/ edge / possessed of the language enabled
me to explain my wish to accompany the
next hunting party [ professed willing
ness to obey every rule and instruction
L gave assurances Of my courage and con
tempt OF danger which. accompanied
with certain gratuities, obtained me the
confidence of Tagore. ono Of the most ex-
pert and courageous elephant hunters in
India. Accordingly, | received his in
structions how to act under various cir
cumstances which might arise during this
dangerous enterprise In my earnestness
L Frequently anticipated my tutors In
structlons, and came to such Just conclu-
slons under the difficult and trying occa-
sions of probable danger that Tagorc
seemed to place great reliance on my cool
ness and Judgement 1t was therefore
arranged | should have the management
Of female elephan. with the next hun
ting party.
Week after week passed in exercises
occupying my tho'ts By day and my dreams
by night. until verify believe was mas
ter of all that could be required in tie
capture of an elephant By kindness.
and by often presenting fayorite food to
the female elephant l was to mount. be-
came familiar with her peculiarties, and
secured her attachment, which [ consid-
cred Important, since IN case Of extreme
danger, the elephant often preserves her
rider. She would raise her leg for me to
mount, caress me with her pr0bocis, and
attend even to my whispered commands
Iagore noticed all these particulars and
confessed he had no doubt OF my compe.
tence to meet any emergency At length
the day arrived, aud our Journey commen-
ced- We had to recruit ourselves at a
distance from our starting point, which
requires eight hours travelling to accom-
PlIsh. | was liberal to my elephant. rs
/ If she had been an Italian marchcsa.
whom | could captivate with boH50aS
and my expectation was answered. Ia
Z
whiIc was appiaudjug her, | saw her lit
+ tie sparkling eyes turned upwards and
her probo>cis came regularly over her
broad forehead to receive my tribute Of
acknowledgements. practiscd dismouat-
ing slowly. and rcgairiug my scat eXpedi-
tiGu~ly, to the entire satisfaction Of Ia
gore.
In tins way We travelled through Jun
/ giles over tracts ofsedey grass. up mounds.
and down ravIucs tn We came INTO an
I e7"u ,evei roarrre surrounded by gently
/ rl~1eg -roHa covered with wood We
We're approaching grove with our minds
raised 70 the highest pitch of excitement.
When Iagorc uttered au exclamation. aud
pointed to some stra-ziiur trees nv
heart Sweilcd with rapture but | could
not discover to what be would cali mv at
tentlon; till shading my eyes from the
suns rays and the beat refractcd from tie
! yellow dry jungle grass. saw tre,ncu-
/ dous elephant Excellent" cr,eG
that IS the fellow We must can:ure ="
! We vii! attempt IT reul.ed par3re
( " c s,""g oar csh.e~ and 4.uati csr,., a.,
aur arms. covered ourSelve, WITH c.o,as
the color OF the elephants. aud cpucbcd
4 close on their uccks Follow me" said
/ Tagore; the animals know their busi-
ness do you be steady and act with me
''Proceed," said / As we iolted along
| perceived the elephant was very dark.
with remarkable clean tusks Of SURPRISING
I length | felt an iudescribable sensation
Of delight at being about to enjoy what
had SO long and SO ardeutly desired In
perfect depcncence on the skill of Tacore.
and confidence in myself / recalled the
directions | had received
TaGore slackened pace as he APPROACHED
the monster. which seemed not 70 regard
rs, but continued to pluck branches from
limbs Of trees which stood in front of 9th
ers that struggled on the edge Of a neigh
boring forest Oar elephants made a
slight curve in their line Of approach. and
took some Of the torn branches. at which
the monster snOr5ed 50 loud that ny
beast trCmbled | was in profuse rcr
spratlon. not altogether from alarm, Uut
from being confined beneath nv cloth. and
receiving the humidity of the animal.
soon found myself on tue left side of the
monster, and nay beast caressing him bv
rolling her pr1buScis over her head aud
shoulders Tagarc and his elephant we're
hidden from me by the enormous bulk of
the male. but [ soon perceived by the
gradual sidelong movement of the whole
group, that we were placed so as to bring
i the legs Of the male elephant near the
trunk OF u large tree. This was the mo
meut to be seized. / slid cautiously
down with my ropes and found Tacore
had already fastened his strongest rope
round the tree. Our elephants became
more assiduous in engaging the attention
/ Of the monster, or. As it were. more elo-
quently speaking the prologue OF their
loves Tasore. with his finger on his lips
and nod to me, placed moose round one
. leg of the enormous beast: the leg was
raised. and kept suspended during min
ute 1t appeared an hour of the greatest
excitement; and when the foot Geceuaei
the ground shook beneath Us [ looked
at TaGore; he was collected bat the pQ-
pills OF his eyes were unshadoweJ by their
lids. aud large drops Of perspiration trick
IL I, Il.