The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-10-06


 settled portions of the country. At times I suffered desperately with ennut, and when Ulysses came under my notice l was very willing to &C., cept him as an antidote.
 It was a tiger hunt-the first and last that ever attended-that I saw Ulysses perform the act of vslor which led to my adoption of him. My friend and host, brave but reck- less EDglishman, was on the point of being torn to pieces before our very eyes when Ulysses caught the leg of the wounded tiger, and jerked him of into the tall grass. The beast was quickly dispatched, and then the company burst into exclamations of praise over the nerve which the Eng lishman had displayed. No one had much to say about Ulysses, his per- formance being accepted much as a matter of course. 1 was tempted, however, to take rather more senti- mental view of it, and as I could see no good reason why should not own an elephant, determined to become the possessor of this one.
 made inquiry of German in Mad ras, who had formerly owned the an- imal, as to his, character and general behavior He declared that they were "gaaz gut" and that if I wanted an elephant for my own use 1 could hardly select one
 But why did you dispose of him to his present owner?" l asked.
 "Because he was sulky about doing the work l assigned him." answered the German; If it was to learn any, thing new he was very willing, but to do always the same, he thought he had too much brain for that.''
 The man was building contractor, and had used Ulysses for draft pur- poses. The fact that the animal had been unwilling to perform drudgery was to me an evidence of his origi- nality, and l was the more anxious to own him and to make a study of his character.
 The purchase was effected by se- ries of complicated negotiations, car- ried on in my behalf by half- breed elephant trainer, known as Jerry Rha- hob, with the owner of Ulysses. Had l undertaken the job myself might have found the elephant a more ex- pensive luxury than cared to pos sess. My agent, the half- breed, had the reputation of knowing more than any man in Madras about the habits and characteristics of elephants and the means by which they could be most successfully trained. For some time he had been in charge of the yards where the animals owned by the British government were prepared for service in war or road building. Before setting out for my bungalow, l thought best to consult with Jerry, who spoke English perfectly, as to the course of education to which I pro- posed treating Ulysses.
 'I intend to teach this animal all that an elephant can be made to learn," said I.
 "You will not have time to do that" said Jerry, significantly.
 "Do you mean," asked, "that there is no limit to what an elephant can be taught2"
 My experience has led me to be- lieve that it depends upon the pa- tience of the man, and not upon the capacity of the brute, how far the in- struction may be carried"
 "Very well," said, "I shall have patience. What most need is advice about gaining the creature's confidence and affection"
 The fact that am a bachelor does not prevent my entering an extensive code of opinions on the subject of the proper rearing of children. The sug- gestions of Jerry Rhahob on the train ing of elephants seemed to me much the same that would have offered a young and inexperienced parent if he had applied to me for advice about his offspring.
 Reduced to its fundamental princi- ples, Jerry's theory was that an ele- phant should be regarded as a dumb and deformed human being, possessed of keen appreciation of right and wrong, delicate sensibilities, excep- tional capacity and high character. From the mental and moral qualities with which Jerry's conception seemed to endow this being, I should have &C., corded him place in the human spe- cies, among that class which is said to be born and not made, the genus t,vt- ta6tle.
 One piece of warning he gave me in conclusion.
 "The elephant knows as well as you do," said he, "that he is an animal and you are man. He appreciates the distinction. He understands that he is your physical superior, and that he could by single blow of his trunk dash the life out of you. As long as he is kindly treated, he will feel no desire to exercise that power. In the matter of intellect, he appreciates that