St. Landry democrat., 1884-11-29
MOULMEIN ELEPHANTS.
Is Their Wonderful Intelligence
Due to Instinct or ReasonP

Some time ago there was discussion
in the learned journals regarding sIn-
tellect in Brutes,' and l thought then,
as | think now, that much of the con-
troversy depended on the definition we
assign to the word ..intellect.n Some
say that it is merely an exaltation of the
natural instinct of the brute; others that
it is an exhibition of true reason. But
then, what is INSTINCT Some arguers
mystify their hearers, and exhibit their
own ignorance Of the subject by reply
ing: Instinct is only that in animals
which we call reason in man. Well,
this is not the place to argue the subject;
but shall exhibit certain facts, observed
by myself, in the behavior of the ele-
plants employed in the Moulmein tim
ber-yards, and leave my readers to
judge whether they were due to instinct
or reason.
Anchored abreast Of Aga Synd Abdul
Hosein's Undergrad, and within bare
swinging distance of the shore, had
ample opportunities of infinitely observ-
ing and recording the marvellous illus
trations of the elephants intelligence.
These animals are largely employed in
the timber-Yards, and their functions
consist in helping to embark and disem-
bark the huge teak-logs, or move them
about the yard; in fact, without them work
would be at stand-still. What struck
me at once was the wonderful combina-
ton of enormous power with the gen.
tlest, most loving docility. Here were
huge logs being moved about as if they
were matches, and yet with the utmost
regard to any one in the way. A case
III point. We were landing one day at
the Aga's wharf, and found that the
ebbing tide had left thick layer of
treacherous slime on the wooden slope,
rendering it impossible for a lady to
land. Seeing this, the manager called
out to a mahout or driver, and in
moment his elephant pushed a log down
the slope, just stopping short of the
boat, and affording the lady dry sur
face to step out upon. There must have
been intellect in this act; for the great
log was not pushed down at random on
the wharf, nor into collision with the
boat, but exactly at the right spot and
into the right place.
All elephant-work is performed either
by the trunk or right foot in pushing; by
trunk and tusks combined, as in carry
inc logs; or by the strength of the whole
body IN dragging. Dragging elephants
are furnished with q light wooden pack
saddle, on which the mahout sits side
WAYS, and to which the traction-chain
is attached. This is V-shaped, the leg
being greatly prolonged and ending in
a hook. Let us watch the handling of
this log twenty feet long by sixteen
inches sauare-Which has to be dragged
across the yard. The chain is passed
round it by an assistant and then firmly
hooked; and now the elephant has to
do the rest. His first action is to get
his hind legs well within the Y of the
chain, and then he starts, the log help
lesslv following. Arrived at its destina-
fion the elephant disencumbers himself
of the log by unlocking the chain with
the finger Of his trunk, and then pulling
it from under the log or pushing the
latter to one side. Now, mark what
was involved in this apparently simple
operation, the sole guidance to which
was either the voice of the mahout, q
nat from his stick, or tap from his
heels. First, there was the getting in
side the v. Why did the old fellow do
fhatP He has learned from experiences
that If he did not traction would be iE-
terfered with and his legs rubbed by
the chain. Was not his action, there
fore. dictated by reasonp Secondly,
there was the unlocking of the chain,
which instinct could never have prompt
ed. Imitation was at work; the ele-
nbant had seen that the unlocking OF
she chain liberated the log. and had