The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-06-03
Instincts Of Elephants.

If nature has not given intellect to
these animals, it has given them an in.
stinct very much akin to it. A man has
only to hunt them in their wilds to learn
how wonderfully Providence has taught
them to choose the most favorable
ground. whether for feeding or iencamp-
ing, and to resort to jungles where their
ponderous bodies SO resemble rocks or
the dark foliage, that it is very difficult
for the sportsman to distinguish them
from surrounding Objects; while their
feet are so constructed that not only can
they tramp over any kind of ground,
whether hard or soft, thorny or smooth,
but without emitting a sound. Some OF
their eneamping grounds are models OF
ingenuity-some of them perfect for
tresses. | once followed up a herd and
found them in small forest surrounded
on three sides by a tortuous river, i'm
passable or-ordinary mortals by reason
either of the depth of water, its precipi-
tous banks, quicksands or entangling
weeds in its bed. while the fourth side
was protected by tangled thicket,
further protected by quagmire in front.
To get at them without disturbing them
was impossible; at last, when | did get
within shot of the forest, the elephants
retreated by the opposite side to that by
which had approached, and after fol-
lowing them for several hours | did not
get a shot The damage done to rice
crops, Mr.. Sanderson thinks, is exag-
gerated. 1t may be so in Mysore; but in
Burmah, in many places, it is excessive.
While employed on survey work in the
Tharawaddie district, | have been fol-
lowed about by villagers pointing out the
damage done and asking for a remission
oftax installing me fora revenue officer.
No one supposes elephants have the rea-
soning powers possessed by man; if they
had, we should be their slaves, and not
they ours; but their instinct is wonderful.
will give couple of instances: When
war broke out with Burmah, lot of ele-
plants were sent across from Bengal to
Prone by land, under the charge of Capt
ain Baugh, of the Bengal Twenty sixth.
Among them was magnificent tusker.
He took a dislike to this officer, why was
not exactly known. Some said it was
because he had Knocked off the elephants
neck his mahout; but be the reason what
it may, this brute tried to kill Baugh, and
him only, several times. Ihave seen him
thrashed for this several times by other
elephants armed with chains, who WELD
ed them much as drummer does the
lash at the halberds; but it was of no use,
his dislike was inveterate, he would take
no food except from a pet female, Che
had two dashed alongside of him, and
eventually died at Shoaydoung. AS a
rule, elephants are timid, quiet, molten
sive; but when wounded and closely fol-
lowed up, or females with young. their
fury knows no bounds. They dread fire
more than anything else; but one ele-
plant belonging to the battery in Assam
was an exception, and would assist in
putting out fire. This same elephant
would do what l never knew any other
to do, viz, when beasts neck was cut
through, all but the vertebra, Git did not
matter whether the beast was buffalo,
deer, tiger, or anything else it would,
when ordered, put a foot on the neck.
Irvine the trunk around the head, and,
with wrench, separate it from the body
and hand it up to the mahout. l have
seen one or two elephants that would
hand dead bird up; but most of them
will not touch anything of the sort. Nor
would they Intentionally tread upon a
fallen man or beast-those used for exc
cutions in the Guicor's territories-B
roda-haye been taught to do so. Some
foolish men teach their elephants to
trample upon dead body, and by so
doing ruin them for sport. An elephant,
unless vicious by nature, will only do so
at first with the greatest reluctance, but
after time, if anything falls before it,
it is apt to charge, and if it does not
kneel down suddenly and throw the oc-
cupant out of the howdah, it gets the
animal betweenit legs, and plays sort
of football with it, throwing it backward
and forward between the front and hind
legs until it is of the consistency of
jelly. Men are occasionally thrown off
the back of an elephant; what would
their fate be mounted ON beast who
had been taught such tricks? An ele-
plant l bought of MIR. Tye had once
been cut by rhinoceros. Nothing
would induce her to entera jungle where
one of these animals was; the very
slightest scent of one would send her
flying. A splendid female muckna be-
longing to my department cared nothing
for tiger; would kick one out of her
path without showing the slightest signs
of uneasiness, but if she met pony
nothing could hold her. London Field.