The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-06-11
From the London Tlmes.
BATH OF THE ELEPHANT.

Beyond the dhoby, in cleaner water BY
comparison, bevy OF elephants are enjoy
ing their morning bath. And they do enjoy
it, indeed See how they roll away like sc
many porpoises, right under the flood, and
leave the mahouts shouting and cropping with
their feet for the unstable black islands
which after a short time rise above the sur
face. Look at the great jets they blow ur
over their backs, and listen to the deer
breath of pleasure or the shrill flourish OF
delight with which they lie down on the sand
while their attendants knead them all over
These great creatures arc so sagacious; sc
sensitive to kindness, that even in their wild
state cannot feel sympathy for those who
delight in killing them and calling it sport
But these elephants, fond as | am of them.
are, it must be admitted, dangerous play
mates.
In our camp there were 90 less than nine
"k0onies," or murderers-beastsw whiv kill
ed their nahouts or other attendants. One
huge criminal with speckled forehead and
proboscis, is guilty Of the murder Of no less
than three unfortunate natives. The mag
nifcent wild monster which belonged to Sir
Hugh Wheeler, was carried off by the Mana
and was delivered up to us by the Raja OF
Furrukabad, died few days ago, immedi.
ately after carrying some officers to Church.
lie was fine courageous creature, and his
trunk and forehead bore marks Of the claws
of more than one tiger which had charged
him, and then been trampled to pulp by his
pOnderous feet. His 80 weakness was fine
French rolls, which he swallowed as an Al
derman would take Cookies pills and the
twinkle of his eye as he gulp ped the loaf down
and gave gentle sigh out of his proboscis,
proclaimed the Sybarise.
| used to take great delectation' in observ-
ing the creatures at the bath in the river
which flows by our camp. They came down
in files, trumpeting gaiy in anticipation Of a
treat, and foundered into the waters of
Goomtee, like so many portly Bruxellers en-
joying the pea-soup sea of Ostend. Each
takes Il long deep drink, putting his probos-
els into the water, and then diseharging the
contents of it, when filed by suction, INTO
his cavernous NAV. Having thus filled up a
wrinkle or two in his side, he deposits him
self bodily in the stream. so that one side
lies out of the water, and the tip Of his pro-
boscis is kept above the surface for the air.
On this exposed island the mahouts labor
diligentlv,. washing the beast and rubbing
him with hard brushes, cleaning his ears,
kncading and shampooing him, while the
pachyderm emits little squeaks Of satisfac-
tion. When one side is done, the elephant
turns on the other, aud he is very angry in
deed if he does no, get his full share Of man
ipu.atioa.
BRIDGE OF BOATS AND THE CANGEs.
And now we approach the bridge of boats
over the Ganges. The bridge is so narrow
that two carriages cannot pass, and there is
consequently Il good deal Of competition be-
tween V, hicics on the opposite sides rs to
which shall get fairly on the roadway first,
5, that the rush down the bank to the bridge
is violent enough. The muddy yellow stream
more muddy than the Tiber itself-fows
with violence under the boats, and keeps the
cables well taut. 1t bears on its creaming
surface all sorts Of nastiness but the Hin
docs have it that nothing can polute the no.
ly waters of the Gunga, and it is a comfort
able creed for those who drink it. and pre-
fer faith to sense. By the margin, close to
the bridge, there is dhoby washing clothes,
and within two or three yards of him there
is lying the bloated white. yellow and purple
streaked corpse of native woman, on which
are seated foasting daintily a batch of car
rion crows and filthy vulture; and he
washes away unconcernedly, and would do
so probably, if itwere the BODY Of his 9TH