The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-07-26
LIMITING WITH ELEPHANTS.
Some Pcculiaritics OF These Noble
Beasts.

Hunting, gives an interesting ac-
count of the use of elephants in that
ALWAYS dangerous sport The ele-
nbants used for tiger-shooting are gen
orally lent by the Government, an Of
fetal document being at the same time
handed to the borrower in which the
height name, supposed age, and
nrices of the animals are duly stated,
Tor. in the event of casualty, the loss
mist be made good. More than El00
is rarely demanded for a Government
clepba1t. although it is very often
worth much more, the tariff being
based on the expenses incurred by its
capture and training.
Of course, it is very important be-
fore making a selection to obtain some
knowledge Of the characters and ante
cedents of the elephants in the Com
missariat Yard, and if you intend to be
your own driver you must also con-
trive to be on good terms with the one
YOU choose for your personal use. Ele-
phantine perfection is, it seems, repre-
sented by gentle and steady female,
who will stand quite still while the
tiger is roaring and charging in all di-
rec,ions: but, as females of this species
are by no means more endowed with
physical courage than other person
ages of their sex, they generally be-
come wild with terror after having eX-
perienced one mauling, and, far from
remaining tranquil, make the best of
their way from the scene of action
when they find themselves in danger,
so that Mr., Barras is perhaps justified
in his prediction for cross old tusk-
ers.
Be this as it may, his first choice
fell upon q handsome fellow nearly ten
feet high, which had only killed two
people during long career, and that
while incautiously approached during
an attack Of fever, and which bore a
high character for gentleness as well
as courage. Though ready to obey
orders, Roghanath had a strong OBJ
lection to being made to kneel, SO the
author, having but little time to spare
for making friends, thought it well ito
pass vote of confidence at once
and, after feeding him with bread and
sugar, proceeded to mount in orthodox
style, namely, by stepping on his tusks
when the elephant lowered himself by
advancing his front legs, and then al
lowed himself to be transferred by q
toss of the head to his place behind
the ears. This done, Mr.. Barras, in
his character of an enlightened Eu-
ropean mahout, set forth for his first
ride.
But we must let him describe this in
his own words: The native man,
from want of thought, keeps up con-
slant drumming on the beasts head
with the goad Of 'ankus;' | therefore
hoped not to use it at all. Such an
improvement all at once, however,
proved more than even the elephantine
mind could grasp. He began really to
enjoy himself, going his own way
more than mine, till at last he marched
straight into an immense forest tree OF
the banyan species, and commenced 10
browse He seized the boughs above
his head, and, Juggling violently at
thcm, brought them down on my de-
voted skull. This was too much.
raised the ankus and brought it down
on his head with q blow that brought
blood through the skin. This had the
desired effect, and he at once bundled
OIL by the road he knew | wanted him
to 90, He merely took with him 9
branch about the size Of q small apple
tree, 10 discuss as he went along
FROM this moment we were friends
and do not think l ever had to us,
the hook again so as to bring blood
generally, 1t was sufficient to tan hin
with nay fingers to get him to do wha
| wanted. -
If the male elephant islands on
maullng he becomes fierce, and wi
charge into any cover where he SUI
posed the tiger TO be, displaying
some occasions mistaken zeal whic
mas oeen known to produce fatal r.
suits, for which reason tuskers are rs
rule not much appreciated. NJ,
Barras, however, as before remarked
gave the preference TO good fighte,
and seldom had reason to repent Of II
choice, though on one occasion he he
n narrow escape. Having got in
rather n slender tree without the ell
phant being aware of it, the latt
probably took him for a monke
charged furiously, and. selling the sa
ling with his trunk, bent it two
three times to the ground. but fortu
ately without breaking the stem. II;
he succeeded in doing 50, he would
his blind rage have probably tramplt
his master to death, though when Il
mahout succeeded in backing hir
and the author dropped to the grour
ana called him by name, Muarak Ga
he extended his trunk in the mo
friendly manner, and hoisted him {
to his head
A much more terrible danger was i
Cured by the writer with this san
elephant when, tigress having spru
ON his head, Muarak, by nigh
shake, hurled his enemy and his rid
into the air together, the latter beiI
deposited unhurt in nest of soft ora
which, happily, concealed him fro
the tigress, and out of which, in fe
and trembling, he managed to ma
his way toward the approaching Ii
of elephants, regaining his seat up
the head of "Muarak Guj. A seco
time the tigress made similar sprir
but this time Mr.. Barras believes Il