Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-09-01
misrfllane0ns.
Hunting With elephants.
SOME PECULIARITIEs OF THESE NOBLE
BEASTS.

Julius Barras. in his recently published
volume on India and Tiger-Hunting.
gives an interesting account OF the use OF
elephants in that always dangerous sport.
The elephants used for tiger-shooting are
generally 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 prices OF
the animals are duly stated. for, in the
event of a casualty the loss must be made
good. More than 600 is rarely demand
ed for a government elephant, although It
is very often worth much more, the tariff
being based on the expenses incurred by
it, capture and training.
OF course, it is very important before
making a selection to obtain some knowl-
edge OF the characters and antecedents
Of the elephants in the Commissariat
Yard. and if you intend to be your own
driver you must also contrive TO be on
good terms with the one you choose for
your personal use. Elephantine perfection
is, it seems, represented By gentle and
steady female, who will stand quite still
while the tiger is roaring and charging IN
all directions but as females OF this
species are by no means more endowed
with physical courage than other person
ages of their sex, they generally become
wild with terror after having experienced
one mauiing. and. far from remaining
TRANQUIL make the best OF their way from
the scene of action when they find them
selves in danger, so that Mr. Barras is
perhaps justified in his prediction for
cross old tuskers.
Be that as it may his first cloice fell
upon handsome fellow nearly ten feet
high. which had only killed two people
daring long career, and that while in
cautiously approached during an attack Of
fever, and which bore a high character
for genteness as well as courage. Though
ready to obey orders, Roghanath had a
strong objection to being made to kneel
so the author. having but little time to
spare for making friends. thought it well
to pass vote of confidence" at once,
and after feeding him with bread and SUI
gar. proceeded to mount in orthodox
style, namely, by stepping on his tusks
when the elephant lowered himself by adj
vancing his front legs, and then allowing
himself to be transferred by toss of the
head to his place behind the ears. This
done. Mr.. Barras, in his character of an
enlightened European mahout, set forth
Tor his first ride.
But we must let him describe this in his
own words; The native man, from want
of thought keeps up constant drumming
on the beasts head with the goad OF
'ankus; : therefore hoped not to use it at
all Such an improvement all ut once.
h., ha Ia
phantne mind could grasp. He began
really to enjoy himself, going his own
way more than mine, till at last he march,
ed straight into an immense forest tree of
the banyan species, and commenced to
browse. He seized the boughs above his
head, and. Juggling violently at them,
brought them down on my devoted skull.
This was too much, ! raised the ankus
and brought it down on his head with a
blow that brought blood through the skin.
This mad the desired effect, and he at
once bundled of by the road he knew
wanted him to 90. He merely took with
him branch about the size Of a small
apple tree. to discuss as he went along.
From this moment we were friends. and
do not think | ever had to use the hook
again so as to bring blood; generally it
was sufficient to tap him with my fingers
to get him to do what | wanted"
1t the male elephant stands one maui
ing he becomes fierce, and will charge
into any cover where he supposes the tiger
TO be. displaying on some occasions a
mistaken zeal which has been known to
produce fatal results, for which reason
tuskerS are rs a rule not much appreciat-
ed. Mr.. Barras. however, AS before re-
marked, gave the preference to good
fighter, aud seldom had reason to repent
of his choice, though on one occasion he
had n very marry escape Having got into
rather "A slender tree without the elephant
being aware of it. the latter probably took
him for monkey, charged furiously,
and Selling the saplin with his trunk bent
two or three times to the ground, but for
tunatelv without breaking the stem Had
he succeeded in doing so he would in his
blind rage have probably trampled his
master to death. though when the mahout
succeeded in backing him, and the author
dropped to the ground and called him by
name, "Muarak Guj,' he extended his
trunk in the most friendly manner and
hoisted him onto his head.
A much more terrible danger was IN
Cured by the writer with the same ele-
plant, when tigresS having sprung on
his head. "Muarak." by mighty shake.
hurled his enemy and his rider into the
air together the latter being deposited
unhurt in nest of soft grass which hap
PLY concealed him from the tigress.
and out of which in fear and trem-
bling be managed to make his way
toward the approaching line of elephants.
regaining his seat upon the head of
"Muarak Gui." A secoud time the tigress
made a similar spring. but TINS time Mr..
Barras believes that "Muarak" prevented
the muscles of his neck from moving. so
that his rider might not be unseated
when he flung from him his aSsailant. the
already wouneed tigress being finally
mastered by one of the female elephants
who fairly sat down upon her and nearly
smothered her in the mud
Though the author believes that there
is no limit to the saga 'ity and power of
these creatures. which he ranks next to
man in the animal kingdom. and though
he deprecates the treatment they receive
at the hands of the natives. he on one
occasion so far forgot his principles as to
tease the elephant he was riding hy i'm
itating the roar of tiger. He, however.
very nearly met with his death from the
enraged animal. which never aiterward
forgot the insult Elephants seem to be
perfectly able to distinguish between