The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1892-01-22
THE BEGGING ELEPHANT.



THE most curious and interesting
animal which hEps met" says IA. ia
COLLECT who lived many years In India,
sis the elephant Not the elephant of
&he menageries,. broken IN spirit aud
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
Poudieherry stands, q .PsRoda called
'WulenOOr,' which at the grand fsast8
OF May receives a multitudge OF i've or
six hundred thousand pilgrims, coming
from all parts of india A mum Der OF
sacred elephants are attached to this
pagOda, and among them is a mendi-
cant 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 I have been working beneath my
verandah. closed in by curtains on the
first story OF my house. / have seen
him lift the movable curtain with his
great trunk and balance himself 20
ask me for piece OF small coin, which
he sucked from my hand to his trunk,
a distance OF more than three inches
never failed to give him a small piece
OF money for the Psgodap and for him
self a loaf of bread which my servant
dipped in moIasses, of which the ele-
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
eony of my cottage. One day had oc-
casion to 60 to Yillenoor on business.
arrived at noOni 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 a 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 MS
and, before had time to collect my
senses, he lifted me up placed me on
his meek, and started at full speed Tor
the paGoda; he carried me across the
first enclosure, in which was the great
we'll Tor bathing, and brought me dt-
rect TO the elephant quarters Once
there he placed me on the ground in the
center OF all his companion II was
the begging elephant, he had recOEniz-
ed me. He uttered short cries, lifting
his trunk and waving his ears, which
his friends doubtless interpreted TO nay
advantage, for when the thasildsF, fol
lowed by the priests of the temple,
came out 90 seek the cause OF this
strange demonstration, they found me
calm aud recovered from my surprise,
In the midst of these enormsus beasts,
who were rendering an ovation IN my
behalf
- This is most remarkable said one
OF the priests; 4 have never seen them
act 80 friendly toward anyone
y related 70 him the circumstance
of my gifts to the begging elephant
90 I am no longer surprised he an
sTeredi he has already told the whole
band, and the gourmands are paying
you these attentions in hope Of getting
the same reward
'Is IA pOssibleF' I said with amaze
meut
81 am perfectly sure Of # DO Jon
wish TO see the proof Easa your arm
around the tCupz Of your elephant
friend and make him understand by
signs that you wish hin 70 go ont with
I you: they viii All follow Vou- Allow
/ where =hsy viii bring YOU followed
[ his instructions The begging elephant
I and took up the lead, the nine Others
/ joining in the pace, uttsrinF cries OF
/ contentment among themseivss- We
passed through the gate OF the pagoda,
and they led me directly % the shop OF
I a native baker I would have been ut
/ terlV Gstounded had not already
I known the wonderful intelligence OF
these GnimElA At the shop my duty
was readily undsrEtood- and / present
I ed 60 each one a loaf Of bread covered
/ with the precious molzssas syrup. which
/ Is their greatest delica y.
; 'sThe priest with whom had already
I spoken, and who was professor OF
[ philosophy e. WElenoSr. told me that
I NON time to time the begging elephant
D managed 20 escape from them, and
+ wander as far as PonGicherry TO beg on
( his own sGcouHE KnoszfuF perfectly
the market where he STAINED she pro
I visions on hiz expeditions. he vToald 20
there pllas the money he had collected
{ On the table Of 6 fruit uzarcE-ue aud
I eat as many pine-applss. bananas.
\ saangoss. aid a. much sugar cane rs
I the Hindoo vVoald allow him fo- the
money. selected