The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-12-18
0hinas Abroad.
AN Elephant Fight at BarOda-
the PRISoE OF WALES ENTERTAINED ny MS
EASTERN HOSTS.

ton at Bnroda, the correspondent Of the
London Daily Telegraph says ;-Tbe'chief
feature Of the Entertainment prepared at
this return call was an elephant fight for
which sort Of exhibition the Court Of Ba-
roda has always been famous. Native In
dian Princes have indeed a remarkable
passion for such displays, but Khunderao
and his successor, the late Guicowar, were
particularly devoted to the dubious amuse-
ment of watching the contests Of animals,
so that at Baroda there has always been kept
up large supply Of elephants, rhinoce-
roses, buffalos, tigers, rams and camels
trained to fight for the pleasure Of the
Court Combats stih more cruel, such as
the shocking aakhi wherein
naked athletes tore each other to pieces
with iron claws fitted upon the palm--used
to disgrace the leisure Of the Guicowars I;
but We may trust that such sights are now
abolished there. The savage struggles Of
beasts, starved or excited into ferocity are
bad enough, in all conscience, to witness;
but these are so very common at Indian
entertainments that, like bull fight in
Spain, one sees them once or twice as part
of the fashion Of the country Nor, to tell
the truth, is there wanting an element Of
excitement in watching the tiger and the
buffalo bull maneuvre against each other,
sabre-like horn against dagger-like tooth
or two well.fed rams come laundering brow
against brow with shock that rattles far
and near. The Prince was introduced to
certain of these combats, and saw, besides,
the curious duel Of rhinoceroses, where,
despite their unwieldly bulk and awkward
| weapons, there is really almost as much
science displayed as Captain Burton has
elaborated in his recent wonderful treatise
on sword play, with all its deadly mystic
ries Of moulinet and the like. These cum
ming behemoths fence and foin to get the
advantage Of the telling thrust under the
jaw with their horn, and over and over
again they viii close and press and butt
one another backward and forward in clouds
of dust, snorting and grunting and champ
ing foam, while the attendants refresh them
with eopious chatties Of water, neither OBJ
tanning the fatal opportunity. By-and-by
one Of the two combatants grows weary,
allowing his monstrous jowls to be thrust
sideways or upward; and Immediately with
marvellous celebrity the successful beast
drives his armed snout under the Jaw Of
his adversary, producing a wound which is
acknowledged with frightful squeal and
an inglorious retreat on the part of the
vanquished monster.
For the elephant fight proper the con-
tending pairs are carefully trained and
prepared beforehand with stimulating food
and drugs, and advantage is also taken Of
that periodical frenzy displayed in the
male elephant which is known as must.
At such time of natural excitement, the
elephant becomes fierce and formidable
even to his keeper, and only to lead two
such beasts forth into the arena and show
them for moment the waving trunk Of
the distant female pnduces degree Of
pugnacity which wants little additional
encouragement. 1t was one Of the favor,
ite pleasures of the unfeeling Roman pop,
ulace to watch elephant fights in the am
phitheatrc. Augustus, who gave the people
430 panthers, and Pompey, who Yet loose
900 lions into the arena, were thought Il
be outdone by Trajan when he produced
twenty elephants in state Of must, and
pitted them in deadly combat against SOC
Getulian captives That was one elephant
to thirty men, nor would the odds seem
disproportionate to those who have wit
messed the Indian hutti in his wrath
trumpeting out blasts Of rage and defanc'
from his uplifted trunk, Strengthening hi
tail, dropping his great under-hung pointe,
lip to give fair play to his ivory bayonets
and his little eyes glaring all the Will
like fire balls from the shadow Of the hug
ears. Yet there are mahouts who will 81
on their necks and push in the thickest O
the fight brutes as mad even as this
! digging at their nape, this side and thai
! with the ankus or hook, though hardl
more secure than would be the Captains Q
swo iron-clads coming into collision, wit
their oighty-ton cannon discharging,
they perched themselves upon the bowsprl
ends. But only the best trained animal
would be trusted thus to respect man ami
/ their widest rage; ordinary fighting el,
: plants cannot be ridden to the combat; III
} mahouts excite and cheer them, and the
slip on before the encounter begins. Whe
: il does begin, such as can look with plea
: ure on these things behold a colossal dueIlt
, The enormous creatures charge like mouI
s tains rolling together, their tusks clash an
: clatter, their huge feet drive chasms in Ii
!, dust, aud scatter il in clouds; and they re.
D up on their hind legs and wrestle for ma
!, terry with an agility as astonishing as the
J senseless fury. The trunk, ear and Gan
a are the weak places, as the wise beast We
d knows; and what with each keeping b
s own clear and seeking to seize that Of h
e opponent SO that he may force him asit
4 and drive an ivory sword-tip under the
u bow or hook, or wiring off his leather ca
one and the other proboscis ay about !
gesher iu'the air like arms Of an infuriat,
Il stt fsa ars