The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-05-24
OLD SOUPRAMANF.
AN ELEPHANTINE CENTENARIAN ACTING As
A BABY TENDER.

book about elephants written by French
gentleman named JacolliOt, and we will let
the author tell his own story:
In the autumn of 1876 was living iu the
interior OF Bengal, and went TO spcrd
Christmas with my friend, Major Daily.
The Majors bungalow was on the banks
of the Gauges near Cawnpore. He had
lived there a good many wears, being chief
of the Quartermaster's department at that
station, and had great many natives, ele-.
phants bullock carts and soldiers under his
command.
On the morning after my arrival, after
cup Of early tea (often taken before day-
light in Iudia) l sat smoking with my
friend in the veranda Of his bungalow.
looking out upon the windings oftne sacred
river. AMI directly l asked the major
about his children Ia boy and n girl, whom
i had not yet seen, and begged to know
when / should sre them.
"Soupramany has taken them out fish
iRg,' said their father.
"Nhy, isn't Soupramany your great war
elephant ?' L cried.
Exactly so. You cannot have FORGOT
ten SOupramany ?"
"Of course not. I was here, Won know.
when he had that fight with the elephant
who went mad while loading a transport
with bags of rice down yonder. l saw the
mad elephant when he suddenly began 10
fling the rice into the river. His 'mahoup
tried TO stop him, and he killed tue ma
hout.' The native sailors ran away TO
hide themselves aud the mad elephaut
trumpeting, charged into this incl1sure
Old SOupramany was here, and so were
Jim aud Betsy. 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. 'sOle SOup was
hundred years old. he had been trained
TO war, aud to fight with the rhinoceios-
but lie was toe old TO hunt them
"Aud yet, F" said |, becoming animated
by the recollections Of that day "what a
gallant fight il wasi Do you remember
how we all stood on this porch and watch
! ed 1t, not daring to fire shot lest we
/ should hit Old SOupramany? Do YOU re
member, too, his look when he drew off
after fighting an hour and half leaving
his adversary dying in :he dust, ana walk
ed straight to the corral shaking bis
great ears which had been badly torn.
with his head bruised. aud a great piece
! broken from one Of his tusks -
"Yes, indeed" said the major ssWeU.
/ since then, he is more devoted to my dear
! little ones than ever. lie takes them out
whole days, and ! am perfectly content 10
have them under his charge. I don't like
trusting Christian children to the care. Of
! natives but with Old Soup | know they
can come to no harm"
Besides the childieu. on the banks Of the
. Ganges, stood Old Soup with a bamboo
rod in his trunk, With line, hook. bait aud
/ cork, ike chldren's. l had not watched
him long befoIe he had bite for, as tie
! religion OF the IlindOOs fOrbids them to
} take life, the river swarms with fishes
The old fellow did not stir: bis little
! eyes watched his line eagerly lie was no
. novice in the gentle craft" He was
/ waiting till Il was time to draw In his prize
At the end Of his line, as he drew il up.
was dangling one of those golden fish so
/ abundant in the GanCes
When Soupramany perceived what fine
fish he had caught, he uttered one Of
those long, low gurgling notes of salisTac-
tiun 10y which an elephant expresses ioy
and lie waited patiently, expecting Jim 70
take his prize off the hook aud nut on
some more bait FOR him. But Jim. the
little rascal, sometimes liked to plague Old
Soup. lie nodded al us, as much as to
/ say, Look ont, aud YOU u see fun now -
Then he took off the fish. which he threw
into a water jar placed there for the uur-
pose. and went back to his place without
putting any bait on Old Soups hook.
/ The intelligent animal did not attempt TO
throw his line into the wafer. He tried TO
move Jim by low, pleading cries. Il was
! curious to mole what tender tones he seem
ed 70 try to give his voice.
Seeing that Jim pa nu attention to his
calls, but sat aud laughed as he handled
his own line, Old Soup went up to him,
and wish bis trcnk tried TO turn his head
in the direction of the bait box At last
when he fouBd that all be could do vould
not induce the wilful friend to help him,
he turned round as if struck by sudden
thought, and snatebiDg up in his trunk
{ the box that contained the bait, came and
laid it down at the Majors feet then pick
/ ing mp his rod, he held it out to his master.
/ w hat do yOu want me To do with this
/ Old Soup - said the major.
The crtatHte lifted one great foot af.er
( the Other, and again began To utter his
pla niiye cry. Ont of mischief, I took
JImmys part, aud, picking up the bait
/ box pretended. pretended To run with It
/ The elephant Nds not going TO be teased
10y me. lie dipped his trunk into the
{ Gauges, aud IN an itsiani Squirted stream
of water over me with all the force and
( precision, OF tie engine, to the immense
amusement Of ti:e children.
The Major AT once made Soup sign to
stop, and, Ia make my Ueace with the fine
old fellow, | baiied his hook myself
Quivering with i'y baby does when
I u gets hold at last uf a playthiug some one
has taken from a., Old Soupfamany hardly
paused To thank me by a soft note OF iov
for batting his line for him, before be-zaert
back 10 his place. aud was-ags-o Watching
his cork aS il tremblsS'ff1 the Iipples of the
water. 81 FrerEOtas fer Nay.
t-~~
7 CLOTHES MOTHS are always worse In the