Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-01-29
THE BEGGING ELEPHANT.
wonderful Intelligence of The Animal |
His Native Country.

Wonderful Intelligence of The Animal In
His Native Country.
'The most curious and interesting
animal which l have met" says M. ia.
colliot, who lived many years in India,
lis the elephant. Not the elephant of
the menageries, broken in spirit and
submissive, but the elephant as he is
found in his native country. Some in
stances of his aptitude and intelligence
are marvellous, A few leagues from
Pondicherry stands a pagoda called
'Willenoor which at the grand feasts
of May receives multitudge of five or
six hundred thousand pilgrims, coming
from all parts of India A number of
sacred elephants are attached to this
pagoda, and among them is mendi-
can't or begging elephant. Twice each
week this elephant accompanied by
his driver, goes to the villages and to
Pondicherry to beg aims for the
priests of Willenoor. Many times
while / have been working beneath my
verandah, closed in by curtains on the
first story of my house, l have seen
him lift the movable curtain with his
great trunk and balance himself to
ask me for piece of small coin, which
he sucked from my hand to his trunk,
distance of more than three inches,
l never failed to give him small piece
of money for the pagoda, and for him.
self loaf of bread which my servant
dipped in molasses, Of which the ele-
plant was very fond In a short time
we became very friendly. He had seen
me only in undress that is, in the light
silk garments of the country, and then
only across the little pillars of the bal
cony of my cottage. One day had oc-
casion to go to Willenoor on business.
] arrived at noon; the sun was burning
the earth; no one was seen in the
streets or on the verandas; every
one was resting. my carriage had
stopped under mango tree in the prin-
cipal square, and was about to start
for the house of the thasildar, or
governor of the village, when all at
once monstrous black elephant came
running out of the pagoda which was
opposite. He arrived in front of us,
and, before had time to collect my
senses, he lifted me up, placed me on
his neck, and started at full speed for
the pagoda; he carried me across the
first enclosure, In which was the great
well for bathing, and brought me di-
rect to the elephant quarters. Once
there he placed me on the ground in the
center of all his companions. 1t was
the begging elephant, he had recognize
ed me. He uttered short cries, lifting
his trunk and waving his ears, which
his friends doubtless interpreted to my
advantage, for when the thasildar, fol-
lowed by the priests of the temple,
came out to seek the cause of this
strange demonstration, they found me
calm and recovered from my surprise,
in the midst of these enormous beasts,
who were rendering an ovation In my
| behalf.
"'This is most remarkable, said one
of the priests; I have never seen them
act SO friendly toward anyone
II related to him the circumstances
of my gifts to the begging elephant
I am no longer surprised, he an
s~ered; he has already told the whole
band, and the gourmands are paying
you these attentions in hope of getting
the same reward
"Is is possiblc? I said with amaze
ment
81 am perfectly sure of it. Do you
wish to see the proof? Pass your arm
around the trunk of your elephant
friend and make him understand by
signs that you wish him to 60 out with
you; they will all follow you. Allow
yourself to be led and you will see
where they will bring you" followed
his instructions The begging elephant
and took up the lead, the nine others
joining in the pace, uttering cries of
contentment among themselves. We
passed through the gate of the pagoda,
and they led me directly to the shop of
a native baker would have been ut
terly astounded had l not already
known the wonderful intelligence of
these animals. At the shop my duty
was readily understood, and present
ed to each one a loaf of bread covered
with the precious molasses syrup, which
is their greatest delica y.
THE priest with whom had already
spoken, and who was professor OF
philosophy at Willenoor, told me that
from time to time the begging elephant
managed to escape from them, and
wander as far as Pondicherry to beg on
his own account Knowing perfectly
the market where he obtained the pro.
visions on his expeditions, he would go
there, place the money he had collected
on the table of fruit merchant, and
eat as many pine-apples bananas,
mangoes, and as much sugar cane as
the Hindoo would allow him for the
money."-Selected.