The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-05-16
OLD SOUP.

The following curious anecdote is from
a book about elephants, written by a
French gentleman, named Jacolliot, an
we will let the author tell his own story
In the autumn of 1876, was living in
the interior OF Bengal, and l went to
spend Christmas with my friend, Major
DAILY. The majors bungalow was on the
banks of the Ganges near Cawnpore. He
had lived there good many years, being
chief of the ourtermasteI' s department at
that station, and had a great many ma
tives, elephants, bullock carts, and sol
dlers under his command.
On the morning after my arrival, after
a cup of early tea (often taken before
daylight in India), sat smoking with
my friend in the veranda of his bunga
low, looking out upon the wiadings OF
the sacred river. And, directly, asked
the major about his children "a boy and
a girD, whom l had not yet seen, and
begged to know when should see them
''Soupramany has taken them out fish
ing" said their father.
why, isn't 6oupramany your great
war elcphant9,'I cried
Exactly so. You cannot have forgot
ten Soupramany!'
''Of course not. was here, you know
when he had that fight with the elephant,
who went mad while loading transport
with bags of rice down yonder. saw
the mad elephant when he suddenly be
gan to fling the rice into the river. His
'mahout' tried to stop him, and he killed
the mahout. The native sailors ran away
to hide themselves,and the mad elephant
trumpeting, charged into this inclosure.
Old Soupramany was here, and SO were
Jim and Bessy. When he saw the mad
animal, he threw himself between him
and the children. The little ones and
their nurses had Just time to get into the
house when the fight commenced"
YES" said the major. Old Soup was
hundred years old. He had been train
ed to war, and to fight with the rhinocer-
os, but he was too old to hunt then"
"And yet" said I, becoming animated
by the reccolIections of that day, "what
gallant fight it was! Do you remem-
Der how We all stood on this porch and
watched it, not daring to Gre shot lest
We should hit Old Souprsmanvl Do you
remember, too. his look when he drew
of, after fighting an hour and half.
leaving is adversary dying in the dust,
and walked straight to the corral shak
ing his great ears which had been badly
torn. with his head bruised, aud a grea,
piece broken from one of his tusksl"
Yes, indeed" said the major Well,
since then, he is more devoted to my dear
little ones than ever. He takes them out
whole days, and l am perfectly content
TO have them H. der his charge. ! don'r
like trusting Christian Children to the
care of natives; but with Old Soup l
know thew can come to no harm"
Beside the children. on the banks of
the Ganges, stood Old Soup with . BAN
boo rod in his trunk, with line, hook,
bait, and cork, like the childrens. had
not watched him long before he had
bite; for, rs the religion of the Hindoos
forbids them to take life, the river swarms
with fishes.
The old fellow did not stir; his little
ewes watched his line eagerly: he was NO
novice in 1.-THE gentle craft" He was
waiting till it was time to draw In his
prize.
At the end Of his line, IS he drew it mp
was dangling one of those golden tench
80 abundant in the Gan9es.
When Soupramany perceived what
ine fish he had caught, he uttered one Of
those long, low Rurgiing notes Of salts
faction by which an elephant expresses
joy; and he waited patiently, expecting
Jim to take his prize of the hook and
put on some more bait for him. But jim.
the little rascal, sometimes liked to
plague Old Soup. He nodded At rs, rs
much as to say, Look out, and you'll
see some fun. noWl- Then he took OF
the fish, which be threw into . water-jar
placed there tor the purpose, and went
Jack to his place without putting any
bait on Old Soups hook The intelligent
animal did not attempt to throw his line
into the water. He tTisd b move Jim
by low, pleading cries. II W. curious
to note what tender tcaes he seemed 70
Try 10 give his VOICE.
Seeing that Jim paid 10 atAsntian 10
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