The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-06-21
ELEPHANTS.
Their Habits and Ha,,,ts.

two existing species of elephants, the
Indian and African, although on the
island of Sumatra certain varieties have
been found which make it an open ques-
ton whether there should not be a third
division of the family. Elephants are
found in al parts of Africa, from the
Sahara southwark, where wood and water
are sufficiently abundant; also through
out India and the southeastern part of
Asia, and in some parts of the tropical
Asiatic islands. Elephants live in herds
not generally numerous, but several
herds often congregate together in the
same forest or in the same place of drink
ing. Each herd has leader, generally
the largest and most powerful animal.
The leader seems to exercise much con-
gives the alarm in case of danger, and
seems to examine and decide for the
whole party as to the safety of proceed
ings in any particular direction. An
animal which by any cause has become
separated from its herd seems never to
be admitted into another. These soli-
tary elephants are particularly trouble
some, exhibiting an audacity in their
depredations never shown by the herds.
They are also savage and much dreaded,
while from herd of elephants danger is
never unprecedented.
The favorite ha,lnts of wild elephants
;,,4 ha IF fhn ortio
larly in mountainous regions, where they
browse ON branches, and from which they
issue chiefly in the cool of the night to
pasture in the more open grounds. They
are ready to plumber rice or other grain
fields, if not deferred by fences, of which,
fortunately, they have wholesome
dread. A fence of mere reeds will keep
them out, but, if any gaps are discovera-
BILE, they enter in and take placid posses
sion, working much havoc amid the
grain. When the elephant eats grass,
nothing can be more graceful than the
ease with which, before conveying it to
his mouth, he beats the earth from the
roots by striking upon them by the fore
leg. A cocoa-nut is first rolled under
foot to detach the outer bark, then
stripped of the fbrous hrlsl, and finally
crushed between the grinders, when the
fresh milk is swallowed with evident
relish. The fruit of the Palmyra palm
is another favorite food of elephants,
and they seem to have an instructive
knowledge of the time of it's ripening.
Sugar canes are also favorite food. In
deed, elephants are very fond of sweet
things generally. Those that are
brought from th6ir native country are
usually fed on hay and carrots. The
amount of food necessary daily for an
elephant in state of domesticatlon may
be stated at about 200 pounds in weight.
Elephants first became known in Eu-
rope from their employment in Eastern
warfare. In ancient times, as many as
a dozen bowmen and spearmen fought
from the vantage ground of a wooden
structure called the tower, mounted Oh
its back. In India, from the remotesi
antiquity, it formed one of the most pic
turesque, if not the most effective, feat
ures in the armies of native Princes.
With their huge heads defended with
iron plates, to which were attached long
spears, these animals were very formida.
BILE in a charge. They have also been
taught to cut and thrust with a kind OF
clmeter carried in the trunk. When
they were used against people who
were unacquainted with them, the sight
of the great brutes was in itself enough
to create a panic. But after the dread
of the animals had passed away, they
were too often likely to prove serious
inconvenience to their friends. If an
army was compelled to seek safety in
flight, they caused vast amount of dire
confusion and destruction, of which the
enemy readily took advantage. The
Romans imported vast numbers of ele-
plants from Africa to grace their pa
geants, and to fight in the arena either
with each other, with wild animals, OF
with armed men. According to Pliny,
the elephants were trained to perform
surprising feats, such as throwing jave-
Inns in the air and catching them with
their trunks, fighting with one another
as with gladiators, executing the Pyrrhic
dance, and walking and dancing upon
tight ropes suspended in the air. The
great feat in ancient or modern times. in
connection with the elephant as war
animal, was the passage of the Alps by
Hannibal when he invaded the Roman
territory.
When Tamerlane invaded the domin-
ions of the Sultan Mohammed. the war
elephants of the latter were the most
formidable obstacles But a bold and
dashing charge Of horsemen, at the head
of which was the great Tartar chief him.
self, threw the elephants into rout and
confusion, and secured him the victory
and the throne. After the battle, the
severed trunks of the animals were
strewn about the field. This victory not
only secured Tamerlane the throne of
India, but dissipated forever the dread
which was entertained of the elephant as
a fighting animal.
WHO HE ROGER WILLT4MSe
Last week we did not know Roger
Williams had been eaten, and SO an
swered. Since that time a friend has