The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-07-31
ON AN ELEPHANTS BACK.
A RIDE ON AN INDIAN PoTENTArE's
BEST STEED.
Monkeys, Apes and wild Camels
Along the Roads-Big Crocodiles
"A Camel Drivers Trick.

"A Camel Drivers Trick.
1 visited the Rajah's stables and took
a look at his horses, writes Frank G.
Carpenter from Jeyporc, in Northwest
India. There was court for exercise
which covered, l judge, something like
ten acres, and around this was built an
arcade of stalls rooted over with thick
heavy roof to keep off the sun. There
were about half mile Of these stalls,
and each of them was occupied by fine
blooded steed. There were horses from
Arabia, from Europe, America and In
dia, and the tying of each was different
from anything have ever seen. There
was strap from their halters, which was
fastened to rings just above their heads,
and each of their four feet had seperate
rope, which was stretched out towards
the four corners in front and behind them
and tied at distance of perhaps six feet
away to post. The ropes were loose
enough to permit them to move their legs
up and down, but they could not kick
nor stand on their hind legs.
next visited the elephant stables and
took a look at the twelve great ele-
plants which the Rajah owns. Some of
them are as big as was Jumbo. They
have great brass chains about their necks.
Their tusks are cut off about half way up,
and they are bound with heavy brass
rings. One of them has sort of tattoo
work on its great ears and forehead,
made in the patterns of a cashmere shawl,
and they are altogether bigger than any
elephants | saw in Siam or Burmah. At
the invitation of the Rajah's secretary
l took ride yesterday afternoon upon
one of them. wanted to visit the ruins
of the old palace and city of Amber,
which is located in the hills about
four miles from the city. An elephant
was sent from the palace to the foot of
the hills in the morning, and when
arrived shortly after noon l found it
waiting for me. 1t was the biggest of
the Rajah's elephants, the one which
had great brass-bound tusks and the
cashmere pattern ears and fore
head, and upon its head there sat Hin
doc elephant driver in a bright turban
and gown. He held a prod-like steel
hook in his hand, and his bare, brown
legs clasped the elephants neck just
back of the ears. He made the ele-
phant kneel as our carriage drove up,
and a second servant took step-ladder
from its side, and, lecning this against
the beast, we mounted up the wall-like
side of the kneeling elephant and took
our seat on the cushioned saddle upon
its top. Cautioning me to hold on, the
driver then gave the elephant thrust
with his prod, and the great beast
climbed to his feet and started off in a
swinging walk up the mountain. The
motion was swaying one, and we went
along at a round pace, seated as high up
in the air as though we were on the
roof of a village house. The servants,
who trotted along on the road below,
seemed very far down, and the motion
at first was a half seasick one. After a
half mile l got used to it, however, and
began to enjoy the strange ride.
From the top of the elephant could
see the walls of the old city of Amber,
climbing the hillsides, and away up the
mountains stood the deserted ruins of Il
fort covering many acres and apparently
in as good condition now as when it was
mighty palace of Amber, overlooking a
beautiful lake and surprising in beauty
any of the ruins Of the Rhine or the Dan
ube. All along the road were the wild
country scenes ofnative India. Here the
monkeys jumped from tree to tree and at
one time a great long-tailed ape hoped
across the road Just in front of the ele-
phant so that the beast swerved, almost
throwing me from my seat. In some of
the fields and woods | saw wild peacocks
spreading their gorgeous tails out in the
rays of the sun, and along the slopes of the
mountains below the great palace | saw
wild hogs. The road was lined with
hedges of cactus twelve feet high in some
places and at the lake, at the foot of the
hill on which the palace is built, l saw
half dozen great, black crocodiles
sleeping in the sun.
The travel along the road was as curl
Gus as the wild animals of the country,
and we passed camel after camel, ridden
by men, boys and women. | shall not
soon forget the shabby trick which one
camel driver served us. The flies were
very bad. They swarmed about the
elephant by thousands and persisted in
attacking my eyes and face when my
hands were both occupied, one in hold
ing on and the other in trying to keep off
the rays of the sun with an umbrella.
This camel driver was badly afflicted
with the flies as ! was, but upon nearing
the elephant he whipped up his camel
and then pulling his long, white turban
from his head he swept both sides of his
camel,as he passed US. The flies left his
camel and came TO e elephant, and
his laugh rung out on the air as he trotted
ahead After a ride of several miles up
the hills we reached the great palace of
Amber, which is one of the most maguif-
cent ruins of India, and which is now
occupied at times by the Rajah of Jey-
pore. 1t was at one time the centre of a
great city, but now village of Hindoo
fakirs is all that is left. j attended the
sacrifice Of a goat within it, and then re-
mounting the elephant rode back to Jey-
pore.