The record-union., 1892-04-30
WEIGHING AN ELEPHANT
How the Wise Prince Shahjee Solve,
q Difficult Problem.

Difficult Problem.
About two hundred years ago there
lived Prince of Mahrattas, in Hindo-
stan, whose name was Shahjee. Princes
are numerous in India, but this particu-
lar Prince was long remembered on ac-
count OF his beneficence and great wis
dom. He seems to have been the most
learned Prince of the time, and his ad-
vice and help were always sought in crit
ical matters. Many stories are told of
his ingenious settlement of difficulties,
and some OF them are certainly curious
Once very high official in the court of
Prince Shahiee made VOW that if he
succeeded in a certain enterprise he
would distribute to the poor of his dis
trict the weight of his own elephant in
silver. Elephants were highly priced by
these Princes, and each kept the largest
and finest for his own use. The officials
VOW, II haSty, was generous, and perhaps
the success of his undertaking was worth
the price.
The undertaking succeeded: but the
official, willing to keep his oath, was
met by an unexpected difficulty. There
was no possible way Of finding the ele-
phanps correct weight No scales in the
country were constructed OF sufficient
power to weigh such enormous beasts.
Elephants were not sold by the pound,
and no need had before arisen for scales
TO weigh them. All the learned and
clever men of the court tried in vain to
construct a machine of sufficient power
to weigh the enormous beast. 1t did
seem probable that the poor of Hindo-
stan would have to get along without
that silver. 1t is possible that the official
had thought OF this objection when he
made the vow. Indians are crafty, and
this one might have been cunning enough
To leave himself loophole of escape to
prevent parting with his money.
l,,t S,ph haI !
him, he was doomed to disappointment
in the matter. The question was re-
ferred to ShahJee, as all such veXatiouS
questions Were. And ii did not take him
long to find very simple solution. That
is always the way with true genius, YOU
know. The solution it finds is SO simple
that every one cries out IN wonder:
why, OF coursei Why didn't some
body speak of that before?''
Shahjee commanded the elephant to be
conducted along a platform into flat
bottomed boat which lay by the water
side. When the animal was safely aboard.
he desired the attendants TO mark tlDon
the boats side the exact hight to which the
water reached when the elephant weighed
ii down. Then the elephant was taken
ont, and stones substituted, until enough
were loaded into the boat to bring it to
the same water-line as when the elephant
was the passenger.
Then the stones were weighed. If the
scales could not hold all at once. part
could be taken at a time, you see, and so
the elephants weight was correctly ascer-
tained. II is safe 10 conclude that the
poor OF Hindostan finally got the silver.
\ Prince so wise must have also been
lust. Whether the official who paid the
money was quite satisfied history does
not tell US; but we will hope, for his
charity's sake, be was, and as a full
grown elephant weighs several tons, the
amount Distributed among the poor of the
district must have been very large
Harper's Young People.