Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-08-20
An EIephant Firht lu IndI.

A1Aa 9AAAHA0 VI
sport is unknown 10 our readers. the.ar-
ticle will be found interesting:
At last the elephant fight, which was
subjected to so many postponements,
took place June 4. Sir Madhava Rao
arranged to have carriages sent into
camp for those invited, and by 4 pm,
which was the hour fixed, a goodly num-
Der of ladies and gentlemen had assem-
bled. Entertainments of this descrip-
ton, particularly elephant fights, have
for some years past been a weekly &C.
currence in the Gaekwaree diary. This
entertainment, which was the first of its
kind during the reign Of the present
Gaewar, created no little sensation.
From an early hour in the afternoon the
streets through the city to the elephant
stables were thronged by gayly.dressed
crowds Fastening on to the tamasha. 1t
was impossible on this account for any
one to allow his carriage to 90 at any
pace quicker than a walk. The enter
tainment was held 10 the elephant sta
bles. A large arena of about 1900 yards
by 1000 was. inclosed by a pukka walkof
about ten or fifteen feet in hight. The
entrances, which we're just enough to
allow an elephant to pass through, were
blocked by cross.bars OF considerable
thickness On the walls, on the sur.
rounding tree and mounds were perched
some thousands Of natives in holiday
costume, Rows of open umbrellas Of
the gaudiest colors showed that the ma
tives felt the sun, and without the slight
est hesitation it can be said that the
afternoon was exceedingly oppressive.
On one side of the arena is an upper
stored building parposely erected for
the Gaekwar to witness the entertain
ments. The building is very high. On
the first floor was a %csrpeted, open yer.
andah, with chairs arranged for the
Gaekwar and his party of gentlemen
friends, and on the floor Immediately
above it the chicks, etc, showed that the
Maharsnee |Jamnabhal and the ladies Of
the palace were to occupy itin company
with their European lady visitors. The
Gaekwar's younger brother and father
occupied seats on another raised place
by the side Of that of the Gaekwar, and
the leading members OF the Baroda ma
tive aristocracy witnessed the tamasha
from the story above. 1t was not until
past FIVE o'clock hat the heralds an
nounced the Gaewar arrival outside the
arena, and a few minutes afterward Sir
Richard Meade arrived, leading his high
ness by the hand to the seats provided
for them. Mr.. Richey followed with the
Princess Tarabai, and then came Sir
Madhava Rao and a brilliant native
suite / forgot to mention that by the
side Of the place where we sat was q lit
tie refreshment room, where Sir Mad
hava Rao's hospitality was generously
displayed in the shape of champagne
cup, ices, ETC., not a little acceptable on
such a sultry afternoon.
At a given signal two elephants, which
had all this time occupied places facing
one another on the right and left ends Of
the arena, were let loose. The animals
we're musth, and had up to this been
heavily chained on their hindlegs. Di-
rectly they were let loose a host of
spesrmen and budmashes ran before
them, attracting attention. No sooner
did the animals catch sight OF one an
other than they roared and rushed on in
a most dangerous manner. Every one
who had not seen an elephant fight be-
fore anticipated a tremendous crash,
but no. The animals advanced at this
rapid pace, and no sooner did they come
Within a foot Of one another than they
made a dead stop. The object Of this
was soon apparent. The keen way in
which one watched the others eye
showed that an attack would be most
~guardedly commenced. After one or
two attempts on both sides, one of the
animals got his trunk well over the 9TH
er's tusks. The tusks then met, and the
object of the animals was to get a good
grip and push on. This was done about
twenty or thirty times, and the smaller
animal actually once got his sntago-
mist under such a powerful grip that
he pinned him by the head to the earth,
lifting off his hindlegs completely to
a hight of about two feet from the
ground. The spectators signi6ed their
appreciation of this by loud huzzas.
After the animals separated and COM
menced another attack it was apparent
that the smaller one was getting the bet
ter OF it, aSd he brought his antagonist
to bay in O few minutes a%fterward, and
when he found the latter giving in, didn't
be. punish him? He backed and re-
turned with dreadful force, butting his
crestfallen foe with great force on the
side. The signal was then given to re-
move the elephants, a number of rockets
were let off, and the mahouts, taking ad-
vantage of the panic which seemed TO
seize the animals, very dexterously got
hold of their tails. This had a wonder
full effect. The elephants allowed them
selves To be heavily chained and led
away, Another couple was then let
loose, but the extreme weakness of one
Of the animals brought the e%ncounter-to
a very speedy termination.
A wild elephant was then brought in,
and after being worried by the spearmen
and mahouts until it was mad with rage,
a h%orseman, well mounted, rode up to it.
Without a moments hesitation away
rushed the elephant after the horse
man, who waited until the former came
within a foot Of him, and then shot off
like an arrow. When thus disappointed,
after having his prey almost in his grasp,
the elephant reattacked with gteater
energy; but it was useless-the horse
tantalized him to madness. Once only
a cry from the spectators revealed the
horsemsn with the elephants trunk
touching his waist, but in a second he
shot away all safe. When this was over
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