The Lincoln County herald., 1870-04-21
From the Little CoipOral1
yAGACITY OF ELEPHANTS IN
INDIA.
BY AN CID NAVIGATOR.

T want to tell you, Little Corporal,
shout the elephants 10 India. Heving
to call once, with my vessel, at Ali9ore,
on tbs Malabar coast, for cargo 90 take
on to Calcutta, aud being on shore one
day, noticed with much interest mum
Der Of elephants employed in piliug up
heavy logs of teak timber, With q piece
of rope on their trunks, having moose
At the end. They would slip the moose
on to the log, and then twisting the trunk
firmly round the rope, drag tho log until
very near the pile; then, taking of the
rope, they would push the log up square
sith the rest Of the pile BY mere strength
Of their fore legs. Huge, unwieldy
boxing animals, but docile and patient
to q most extraordinary degree, their
Mahouts, or drivers, meanwhile perched
upon their backs, urging them on, each
With an ugly booking iron hook, in a
short staff, which he kept constantly dig
ging into the fore shoulders Of the poor
animals, uttcring loud cries or orders IN
Hindostanee, which the elephants seemed
thoroughly to understand.
Sesiag me watch them antently, one Of
tie drivers brought. his elephant up to
vRere stood, and making. him kncel
and make bow, OF salsam, with his head
and trunt, he at the same time salaamea,
asking me "Backshcesb, Sahib," or .
present. gave q native standing by q
two anna piece Of silver, (about the size
Of . silver aen cent piecs,) who placed i,
10 the palm of his hand, aud the elephant
at once passed It up to the Mahout. Max
ing snosher grand saisam, and giving q
short grunt Of satisfaction, he resumed
bis work, as docile and patient IS before
Noticing one very large, superior look
ing elephant. with half bis tusks cut Of
b inquired the reason of one Of the ma
tive. who spoke English HE berry bad
fellow, that sur; he kill plenty driver
sur. Rajah send him here, make worI
for punishment" 1t seemed that thi,
had been favorite elephant Of the Rjah
or native prince Of Travancore, about te,
miles distant, where he had killed ssvera
Of bis drivers, for come III treatment q
their hands. The Rajah had then or
dered his tusks to be cut short, and il
charge of twclhe men 10 Was rent sp
secured with heavy chains. like any othe
great criminal, to hard labor at Alipors
I havc also seem them 10 Burmah
I6ading large lighters with heavy, teal
plank, sa,ryiug the planks on their tusks
nicely balanced, and wadiug in the mudd
river at Rasgoon, up to their fore shouI
dtss, stov the planks as carefully in tn
boat ss any two men could have dom
Docile sad patient as they are, howeve
they are some times most ferocious IN
dinssIous, il badly used. The follow
inn story was told me BY most ,reliab
friends Of mine in Burmah 'l-'9oai
A gang Of elephants had been en-
rloyod piling timber at Mauluain. 3
some mis.pkc they had been kept
work beyond the usual dinner bou
They got sulky, and would not wor
when the dnivsrs, ssiug their hooks {,
freely on them. goaded thcm on to perfs
fury. They each one killed his drive
by grasping him, with his trunk q
dashing him o.. the ground. Trampl
BY their huge feet, the men we're so
masses Of mangled human Aesh. Tn
then pulled down The timber they b
been piling and scattered the logs in
directions. thus showing their fsrocl
ssd strength, as weltas their sagacity,
MI L. t.noa-ank,