Wichita eagle., 1888-06-17
BURMESE ELEPHANTS.
NOT so COURAGEOUS AN ANIMAL
AS Is GENERALLY SUPPOSED.

How the 8iahout Takes Advantage of E;s
Beasts Sagacity-An Elephants Caution
When Crossing Bridge-Nervous About
New Departure.
The elephant holds the first rank among
beasts for size. strength and intelligence.
although he is not by any means so cour-
ageous an animal as is generally sup
posed He won't fight unless he cannot
get out of scrape by any other means.
He viii. when travelling with a load of
humans in forest, start az any noise in
the jungle, and If not soothed by his
mahout, is ready TO bolt into the forest.
quite careless about those who are mounted
upon his capacious back Perhaps this
trait IN his character is not want of cour-
age, but merely nervousness. They are
the general beast of burden in the country.
and the government departments have a
number Of them in their charge. Each
elephant has his name. and II is interest
ing to watch them at work. Their
mshouts often take advantage Of their
sagacity and SO save themselves trouble.
l saw an instance of this up the coun-
try The telegraph follows the advance
of the troops to secure rapid communica-
ton with the rear So line was formed
as the country wac occupied FIRST q
track was made by telling all timber and
clearing off any underground. ETC.. to
about twenty feet in width, hundreds of
men being employed. Such trees as were
suitable in length and otherwise were
| trimmed into the required shape for tele-
graph poles; anumber of them being piled
ct intervals along the track. Then the
elephants were sent to carry the poles to
the distances they were to be set apart. |
saw one rnahout conduct his elephant to a
pile of these heavy poles and tell the in
telligent animal to pick one up; he then
with long wand he had for the purpose
measured off the distance and accom-
panied the elephant, who carried the pole
to the place the mahout indicated. Then
saw the mahout tell the elephant to go
to the pile and place them in line along
the track, at the same distance apart as
the one he had measured The man then
lay down under tree and went to sleep
In the meantime the noble animal took
up each piece of timber and carried it to
its proper place IN the line felt SO in
terested that | stayed to witness the
whole proceeding measured tho dis
tances by pacing and found them all 70 be
equal in length and correctly placed like
the first one. The beast then went to his
mahout and gently touched him with the
tip of his trunk and awoke him as much
as to say, "All is finished master, accord
ing to your orders The mahout awoke,
mounted the elephant and went forward
to continue the line in the same easy and
agreeable manner.
| often watched an elephants motions
before he would cross native bridge over
q river. He is most cautious; puts one
foot down gently and presses on the
planss to see that all is safe and firm
before he viii venture upon them. When
perfectly satisfied of the safety of the
structure. and not until then, he viii
walk over to the other side. Other ele
plants who may be in company viii stop
and attentively watch the proceedings OF
the leader. When all is right they follow
him without hesitation. They are not
without warrant for their caution,
for these native bridges are often very
rickety structures, and | say many of
them come to grief during my experience
of them Elephants are sometimes de-
scribed as running, but it is contrary to
their habits to do so; they invaria bly, walk.
" only time | know of their going at
faster rate is when wild elephant is
hard pressed by shekarries- Especially If
slightly wounded. he will suddenly turn
and rush at his assailants. select one and
try to catch him. This is termed charging.
Should he reach the unfortunate hunter
the elephant would seize him around the
body with his flexible trunk, whirl him to
the earth. and tread Kim into q bloody
mass OF flesh.
| have mentioned the nervousness Of
these animals. An instance was shown
I IN, Ia l4,-f ~, ha,,-
draw light wagon. It was considered
that in level country g handy. l. e..
native cart, holding quantity Of stores.
etc. in addition to q moderate load on the
beasts back, would save transport, and
that more could be carried than by merely
heavily loading the animals. The handy
in Burmah is always drawn by the long
horned tame buffaloes OF the fine oxen of
the country. So trial was made to see
if the elephants would take favorably to
this new departure In the order of things.
A special wooden cart was constructed,
strongly built. with long bamboo shafts
and a capacious body and primitive, solid
wooden wheels. One of the most docile
and best natured elephants was selected
for the trial The cart was brought up to
him, the mahout meantime fondling and
coaxing him and calling him pet names,
at first with no promising result. He at
length permitted the rope harness to be
adjusted to his huge person, appearing
very much astonished and foolish all the
time. He kept swinging his trunk about.
and could scarcely be held quiet and in
proper position. at last all was fixed.
some heavy stones being placed in the
cart as ballast The uahout tried to coax
him 10 90 forward. but he would take
few steps only and then suddenly turn off
to the right or left, trying to reach tho
cart with his trunk. He did not like the
rumble of it at his tail. which latter sp-
pendage be kept down close to his body
like frightened canine.
At length. by dint Of praising him and
kind treatment, be dragged the cart few
PAGES onward. As this was thought
enough for one day he was released
Every day for about week be was put
through his PAGES" until he was pretty
perfect and made no objection to having
the handy harnessed to him nor TO drag
the cart whenever wanted Then all the
elephants were brought out to witness
the performance. They looked critically
at their brother in harness, walked around
the concern and felt It with their trunks
When he started 20 travel with the handy
crealing behind hin they seemed trifs
startled, but after g while appeared
reconciled to the look of the thing. After
this exhibition little difficulty was ex-
perienced in inducing the rest Of the gov
eminent elephants to draw the special
handles when II was requisite to do SO.
They had seen how the thing worked with
one of themselves, and therefore accepted
the situation es 9 matter Of course
Charles Aub-ey's BurnAh Letter II Sen