The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-09-01
Why the Elephants Hind Legs Bend
Forward,

aheSoTlCdl IaDle Wnlcn, although II ha,
probably no basis of fact, may posses.
certain interest for those who are
fond of investigating the reasons OF
things
According TO this story there was
at one time, comparatively small
number of elephants upon the earth,
aud these lived together in one great
herd. They were quiet, docile ami
mails, and did 10 injury to any one.
They were formed, however, some
what differently from the elephant of
the present day. You may have
noticed that the hind legs of these ami.
mails bend forward like the legs of a
man, while the hind legs of nearly all
other quadrupeds bend out backward.
In the days Of which this allegory tells.
the elephants hind legs were formed
in the same way: they bent out back
ward like the legs of dog, a horse, or
a COW. The people in that part of the
country where these elephants lived
had no beasts of burden, or wagons,
or carts, and they often thought what
an excellent thing it would be if the
great, strong elephants would carry
them and their families about on their
broad backs, or bear for them the
heavy loads which they were often
obliged to carry from place to place.
One day, several of the men saw the
leader of the herd of elephants stand
ing in the shade of a clump of trees,
and they went to him to talk upon this
subject They told him of the ditlicul
ty they had in taking journeys with
their wives and children, especially in
the rainy season, when the ground was
wet and muddy, and explained to him
how hard it was for them to carry
loads of provision and other things
from one village to another.
"Now, twenty of these loads" said
the spokesman of the men, "would be
nothing for one of you to carry; and
if one of us, aud all his family, and
even some of his household goods,
were upon your great back, you could
walk off with ease. Now, what we
wish to propose TO you is this: If some
OF your herd will consent to carry us
when we wish to make a journey, and
to bear about our heavy goods for us,
we will give you grass, rice, and ban.
yan-leaves and melons from our gar
dens, and such other things as may be
proper, for your services. BY this
arrangement both sides will be benefit
ed."
The elephant listened with great
attention, and when the man had
finished speaking he replied:
"Melons are very tempting, for these
we seldom find in the forest, and fresh
leaves from the luXuriant banyans
which grow about your houses are
highly attractive to elephants; but, in
spite of the inducements you offer,
there are objections to the plan YOU
propose which will, l fear, prevent it
from being carried out. If, for in
stance, one of your families wished to
get upon my back, or if you desired to
place heavy load thereon, it would
be necessary for me to lie down,
wouldn't it?"
"Oh, yes, said the man.
"There comes in the difficulty said
the elephant. sour bodies are so
large and heavy that when we lie
down it is as much as we can do to
get up. Indeed, most of us prefer to
sleep leaning against tree, because
when we lie down at night we often
find in the morning that it is almost
impossible for us to rise Now, if we
find it difficult to get up from the
ground when we have nothing but
ourselves to lift, it is quite plain that
we could not rise at all if we had a
load upon our backs. That is clear to
your mind, is it not"
"Yes," said the man, rather ruefuly.
Il see that what yon say is true. You
would be of no service to US if you
could not get up after we had placed
our leads upon your backs"
And he and his fellows returned
sadly to their village.
But some of the people, when they
heard this story, We're not willing u
give up the matter so easily. There
was witch of great wisdom who
lived in the neighborhood, aud they
went and consulted her She consid
cred the matter for three days and
nights, aud then she told them that,
if they would give her twenty pots of
rice and q bronze gong, she would
make it all right The twenty pots of
rice and the bronze gong were speedily
brought to her; and that night, when
the elephants were all fast asleep, she
went to the place where they were
| lying on the ground, or leaning against
the trees, and bewitcled them. She
managed her witcheries in such a way
that the hind legs of the elephants all
bent inward instead of outward, n,
they had done before.
When the head elephant awoke anG
walked from under the tree agains
which he had been leaning, he wa,
very much surprised at the change il
his gait. He shutlied along in n yer,
different way from that in which b.
lad always walked before,
Il feel as if | were all shoulders,
he said TO his wife,
"And we'll you may be" said she
$50" your hind legs bend forward, eN
acj Y IKE your fore legs.
And SO do yours y he cried, in ute
am 4 'ment.
The elephants who were lying dow
were awakened by this loud converse
tion, and, noticing that many of thei
companions were moving about in
very strange way, thought it would b
+ a good idea TO get up and see whS
: was the matter To their astonisl
4 ment they arose with great ease The
hini legs were bent under their heay
n bodies, and they were enabled to Ii
themselves up with what seemed
u them no trouble at ALL
When all this was made known
h the men of the village, they immed
~ ally urged upon the head elepha
q thlt he and his companions shou
y enter into their service An elepha
v was thereupon orderered by his chi
~ 10 lie down and be loaded and VIII,
Il