The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-01-06
Elephant Hunting.

COL Pollock of India, says that Asiatic
elephants should be divided into two clas-
scs, the goonlus, those that have large tusks,
and the muchnas, or those that have none,
or only rudimcntary oncs; the two kinds
seldom herding together, and having pccu-
liarities of formation which render them
very distinct, although they do not seem to
have been noticed by other writer's. The
muchna is usually taller and more bulky
than tho tuskcr, and has longer and very
ponderous trunk. While some animals of
this kind arc absolutely without tusks, most
OF them have short, sharp ones, growing
downwards, like those of the walrus, with
which they can inflict most formidable
blows. Col. Pollock seems to have been
greatly impressed with the sagacity of the
elephant in its wild state, particularly that
displayed in its choice Of camping and feed
ing grounds, which arc often surrounded on
three sides by Il tortuous river impossible
to ordinary mortals, the fourth being pro-
tccted by tangled thickct or quagmire
II have been an hour or MORE" he SAYS,
trying to penetrate into one Of their fast
nctscs, where 20 or 80 elephants were con-
gregatcd within space nowhere more than
4O0 yards square but so well were the ap-
proaches protected that, at last, when I did
succeed in crossing over, at the risk of
either being swept away by the force Of the
current ordrowncd in its deep bed or boged in
the qnagmircs, the noise we made was suf-
ficicnt to awaken the seven slcepcrs, to say
nothing of disturbing herd of elephants,
and l had the pleasure of seeing them make
their exit one way rs | entered on the op-
positc side and more the animals were on
the move, such was the intricate nature of
the county 1t was useless, indeed impos-
siblc, to follow thcm.' The Burmese and
Assamcsc, it seems, laugh Mt the European
for firing only for the brain of an elephant,
us they aim with considerable success at
the point Of the shoulder, which it one of
Its five vulnerable points. 1t is as amusing
to lind that there is as much rascality prnc-
tiscd about the sale of tame elephant as
about that of horse the vicious one being
drugged and sold as docilc, the sleepy one
frightened by the use Of ginger or brandy,
and the useless brute, that never carries
flesh, fed up for the time with massalays
and sugar cane. The person accustomed to
elephants is perfectly able to judge of their
state of mind by the peculiar noise they
utter; the sort of whistling from the drunk
denotes satisfaction, trumpcting is sign Of
rage, the striking the trunk on the ground
with pitiful cry shows alarm, and kind
of grunt is used to express impatience or
dissatisfaction. Col. Pollock gives good
deal of information rs to the various ways
of catching and training them, and he rather
defends the mahouts from the many sins
alleged against them, saying they arc, as
rule, plucky and not a bad class of men,
easily managed if treated with kindness and
firmness. The trip up the Irriwaddie to
Pagau Myo, Ava, Umrapoorah and Man
daily Is one of the most interesting portions
of Col. Pollock's book. On this occasion
he saw the white elephant, although he was
not clad IN his state trappings, covered with
magnificent precious stones, ''any one Of
which If worth a fortune" Tho animal
stood about l0} feet high, was handsomely
made and had tusks seven feet long, which,
as they all but touch the ground, required
to he slightly shortened each year