Morning journal and courier., 1891-08-06
THE sULTAN,s ELEPHANT.
Queen victoria's Gin 10 His Moorish
 Majesty.

HaJestN.
 tCorrespondence of Pan Mall Gazette
 "Balak" and "UIlah Uk-barn were the cries heard on all sides as the elephant ''Stoke," her Britannia majesty's present to the sultan, was landed at Tangier on Thursday, June II. But, truth to tell, there was little need of the familiar fBalak'' take care or get out of the wsy-for the natives, Moors and Jews alike, were too much awe-stricken by the beasts size and general appearance to think of obstructing it's passage. Not one in thousand of them had ever seen an elephant before, 60 it was hardly surprising to hear at every turn the pious Moslem expression of sur prise and wonder-"UllAh Uk-bar"- the literal meaning of which is ''GOd is great"
 Stokes" entry to the town was by the beach and thence to the outer Sok, or mar ket-place, but on reaching the latter spot he very plainly showed his dislike to the perfume factories of Barbary by turning completely around and starting back again to the terror of the populace who fled in every direction. It was only by a good deal of coaIing that he could be persuaded | to resume his journey. Arrived st the KAs- bah, or citadel a temporary home was found for him in the Armstrong battery where also his mahout and two coolies were ae- commodsted. Since that time his sdomicile has been literally beseiged by persons de- sirous of getting glimpse of him, but the | entrance has been jealously guarded and none but privileged persons have been ad- mitted. I paid him a visit with the Moor ish minister for foreign affairs, Sid el Hai Mahammed Torres, and his suite. For @ time these gentlemen stood at a respectful distance, but gradually summoned up sutf- cient courage to get a nearer view. Stoke was in the meantime busily picking up grass with his trunk and lazily munching away with his eyes half shut, but he roused and "salasmed" most respectfully to the | minister when commanded to do so. The most amusing part of the affair, though, was to watch the expression of the minis ter's retinue as poor ''Stoke" made loaf af- ter loaf of native bread disappear. From | look of intense interest it went to one of amazement, but when 1t came to starting in on a second hundred it was more than Moorish flesh and blood could stand, and, fearful what might happen, they ''cleared, and were soon the center of an interested crowd who listened open-mouthed to the wonderful story, which certainly did not lose anything in the telling. No one can tell a yarn like an Arab.
 s'Stoke" is taken out to exercise twice a day by his mahout, and seems to be thor oughly enjoying himself now that he has once more got ashore. He is splendid beast, young, and veritsbls "albino, his markings being very fine. He was shipped from Calcutta, and I am told by gentleman who ought to know that great pains were taken by the authorities there to select the best animal that could be found He seems strikingly intelligent and docile, has been trained for tiger hunting, and is altogether a very valuable animal. He stands about seven feet high at the shoulders and weighs about four tons; his tusks are brass-mount- ed. A handsome howdah also acoompa- nies him, but this will not be unpscked un- til he is formally presented to the sultan, who is at the present time in Morocco city.
 The other day I overheard two we'll dressed Moors talking about the elephant as they walked away, and was not little amused to hear one say very solemnly: "He's not Moslem." "Why noti'' asked the other. "Why, because he does not un- derstand Arabic" 1" was the apparently un- answerable response. But this is nothing; at the shereefAn court, during our late minister's visit, some almost incredible questions were asked. One was: 'sHoH many legs has hel" Another: Els he