The Van Buren press., 1878-05-21
Vol. l6.---No. 6
A story About an Elephant.


from book about elephants, written
by French gentleman named jacob
| liot, and we will let the author tell his
own story.
In the autumn of 1876 ! was living In
the interior of Bengal, and went to
spend Christmas with my friend, Major
DAILY. The Majors bungalow was on
the banks of the Ganges near Gavin
pore. He had lived there good many
years, being Chief OF the Quartermas
ter's Department at that station, and
had a great many natives, elephants,
bullock carts, and soldiers under his COM
mand.
| On the morning after my arrival. after
- cup OF early tea (ofsen taksn before
a~s.,.sls i.r Iaais- nat smoking with
my friend In the veranda Of his 6ungA-
low, looking out upon the windings Of
the sacred river. And directly, ! ask
ed the Major about his children . boy
and girl. whom had not yet set seen,
and begged to know when ! should SEQ
them.
Soupramany has taken them out fish,
ing" said their father.
"Why, isn't Soupramany your great
war elephant ?" cried.
Exactly SO. fou cannot have for
gotten Soupramany y
"Of course not. I was here. you
know, when he had that fight with the
elephant who went mad while loading
transport with bags Of rice down yon.
der. saw the mad elephant when he
suddenly began to ding the rice into the
river. His 'mahout tried to stop him,
and he killed his mahout The native
sailors ran away to hide themselves,
and the mad elephant, trumpeting, char
ged into this Enclosure. Old Soupfa-
many was here, and 90 we're 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 in the house when
the fight commenced"
YEA" said the Major. "Old Soup
was hundred years old. He had been
trained to war, and to tight with the
rhinoceros, but he was 10 old 10 hunt
them"
And yet,' said becoming animal
ed by the recollections OF that day,
what gallant fight it was! Do you
remember how we all stood on this
porch aud watched it, not daring to IRE
shot lest we should hit Old Souprama-
ny2 Do you remember, too. his look
when he drew off. after fighting an hour
and half. leaving his adversary dying
in the dust, and walked straight to the
coral shaking bis great ears which had
been badly torn, with his head bruised,
and a great piece broken from ono OF biz
tusks r
...u.yas indead - said the Major. "Well.
them out whole days, and am perrecuy
content to have them under his charge.
l don't like trusting Chrintinn children to
the care of natives; but with Old Soup !
know they can come to no harm"
Beside the children, on the banks Of
the Ganges, stood Old soup with bam-
boo rod in his truak. with line, hook,
bait and cork, like the children's. had
not watched him long before be had .
bite for as the religion Of the Hindoos
forblds them to take life, the river swarms
with fishes.
The old fellow did not stir; his little
eyes watched his line eagerly; hs was
no novice in the gentle craft" He was
waiting till it was time to draw in his
prize.
At the end Of his line, as be drew il up.
was dangling one Of those golden tench
50 abundant in the Ganges.
When Soupramany perceived what
fine fish he had caught, he uttered one
of those long, low gurgling notes Of sat
isfaction 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 ~, -
much as to say, Look out, and you'll
see fun. now" Then be took of the
fish, which he threw into : water jar
placed there for the purpose, and went
hack 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 tried to move Jim
by low. pleading cries, 1t was curious
/ to note what tender tones he seemed 70
try to give his voice.
Seeing that Jim paid no attention TO
his calls, but sat and laughed - he han.
died his own line, Old Soup went up to
him ard with his trunk tried to turn his
head in the direction Of the bait-box. A.
last, when he found that all he could do
would not induce his wilful friend to
help him, he turned round as II struck by
a sudden thought, and. snatching up In
his trunk the box that held the bait. came
and laid it it down at the Majors feet;
then picking up his rod. he held 1t out
| TO his master.
"What do you want me TO do with this,
Old Soupt r said the Major.
The creature lifted one great foot A.
ter the other, and again began to uttss
his plaintive cry. Out of mischief. ]
took Jimmy's part, and, picking up the
bait box, pretended to run with It. The
elephant was not going to be leased by
me- He dipped his trunk into Ne
Gauges, and in an instant squirted
stream of water over me with all the
force and precision of . 6re-engine. -
the immense amusement Of the chii-
dren.
The Major at once made Soup sign
to stop, and, to make my peace with
the fine old fellow. baited his hook
myself Quiveriug with joy. ss baby
does when it gets hold at last Of q play.
"a ~