The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-07-19
HUNTING WITH ELEPHANTS.

Some Peculisrities of These Noble Beasts.
julius Barras, in his recently pub
lished volume on Linda 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 official 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
casualty, the loss must be made good.
More than f100 is rarely demanded for
Government elephant, 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 before
making selection to obtain some
knowledge of the characters and ante
cedents of the elephants in the Commits
sariat 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. Elephan-
tine perfection is, it seems, represented
by gentle and steady female, who will
stand quite still while the tiger is roar
ing and charging in all directions but,
as females of this species are by no
means more endowed with physical
courage than other personages of their
sex, they generally become wild with
terror after having experienced one
mauling, and, far from remaining tran
quill, 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 this as it may, his first choice fell
upon handsome fellow nearly ten feet
high, which had only killed two people
during long career, and that while in
cautiously approached during an attack
of fever, and which bore a high char
acter for gentleness as well as courage.
Though ready to obey orders, Roghan-
ath had strong objection to being
made to kneel so the author, having
but little time TO spare for making
friends, thought it we'll ''to pass vote
of confidence at once" and, after feed
ing him with bread and sugar, proceed
ed to mount in orthodox style, namely,
by stepping on his tusks when the ele-
phant lowered himself by advancing
his front legs, and then allowing him
self to be transferred by a toss of the
head to his place behind the ears. This
done, Mr.. Barras, in his character of
an enlightened European mahout, set
forth for his first ride.
But we must let him describe this in
his own words: 1.-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 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 to browse. He seized the
boughs above my 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 had the desired
effect, and he az once bundled of
by the road he knew l wanted him
TO go. He merely took with him a
branch about the size of small apple
tree, to discuss as he went along. From
this moment we were friends, and I do
not think Il 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. +"
If 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
n,iStoGan 1aaI xuhiah hos haan EnOmu
10 produce fatal results, for which rea-