The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-09-13

In this sketch I will give some OF the
peculiarities and habits of, as well as
an accurate description OF the methods
used In capturing wild elephants, says
John B. Gaylord in the Kansas City
journal. A long and varied experience
with this interesting animal. both in it's
natural state and In captivity, has ena-
bled me to collect many facts relative
TO its habits and correct many fallacieS
regarding its instincts and disposition.
Contrary to the popular belief. the ele-
plant by nature is harmless and peace
full, living on terms of amity with all
denizens Of the jungle. They are often
seen feeding in close proximity 10 other
animals. A horse belonging to an Eng
lish officer stationed in India ran away,
and was found some weeks later quietly
grazing with a herd of wild elephants.
They are however, naturally timid. and
become instantly alarmed on the appear
ance of any animal or object with which
they are not familiar. Notwithstanding
its natural gentleness and docility. the
temper of an elephant in captivity can
not always be relied upon; the most gen.
tie and docile are liable TO fits of fury,
even after years of submission. The
than the females and are generally more
unmanageable. The sullen and morose
are never to be trusted.
A herd is a family. not a group acct
IDENTIFY thrown together; there is a fam
Ily resemblance. the same color of eyes,
the same shape of forehead and slope of
back. all pointing to a common lineage
and relationship. The largest and most
commander. and is by common consent
followed as leader. These family herds
are extremely clannish and admit no
elephant to companionship not born
within the fold, nor one that strays and
remains away for any length of time.
If by accident an elephant becomes sepa-
rated from his own herd he is not al
lowed to attach himself to any other.
He may feed in the vicinity, drink and
battle at the same place, but intimate
association is under no circumstance
permitted. There can be no doubt but
this serves to produce that class of soli-
tary elephants which are known as
rogues. They prowl about the planta-
lions, destroying and tramping down
gardens, rice and banana fields and
young cOcoanut groves, and in one night
utterly running the planter
1t is a curious fact that while the
males and many of the females in In
dia. Burmah, Siam and Africa have
tusks, in CeylOn no female and not one
male in leo has them. A Singalese ele-
plant rarely attains a hight OF nine feet
while those of India, Siam and Africa
are sometimes over elven feet In hight
The smallest and most delicate are from
the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.
Next to the dog the elephant is per-
haps the most sagacious of all animals
and in this respect has not been over
rated. When in its native woods, the
elephant exhibits simplicity rather than
sagacity, and seldom eVinces cunning,
although there have been cases of his
feigning death in order to regain free
dom.
There is a vast difference in elephants.
The natives of India divide them into
castles. In a Singalese work called "Has-
ttSilpe, which treats of the elephant,
the writer says the marks of inferior
breeding are "eyeS restless like those of
a COW. the face wrinkled, the tongue
curved and black. the nails short, ears
small, neck thin, the tail without a tuft,
and the forequarters lean and low"
while perfection Of form and beauty con-
sists in the 'softness Of the skin, the
red color of the mouth and tongue, the
forehead expanded and hollow, the ears
broad and rectangular, the eyes bright
and kindly, neck full. back level chest
square. forelegs short, headquarters
plump, and five nails on each foot all
The duration Of life in the elephant is
a matter of uncertainty, many writers
alloting as high as 200 years. There is,
however. no authentic case on record of
an elephant attaining that age. Fleu-
renS. in his treatise, Human Ionge-
witty" advances an ingenious theory. He
claims the longevity Of all animals to be
five times the number of years required
to perfect their growth, and he adopts
as evidence of the time at which growth
ceases the final consolidation of the
bones with their carriages. This con-
summation takes place at thirty in the
elephant, in a man at twenty in the
horse at five, and in dogs at two years
Of age. According to this theory, the re-
spective normal age of each would be
for the elephant, $50 years; for man. 100
years; for the horse, twenty-five years;
and the dog ten years. Among the ma
tives OF India there are traditions Of
their reaching the age of 200 and 300
years. but the Europeans and those in
charge Of tame ones assert that eighty
plant, and that symptoms of debility
often appear at fifty. ] am of the opin-
ION that as many elephants live to the
age of $50 years as mankind do TO the
age of 100 years in proportion to their
numbers.
In Burmah and Siam they are extern
sively employed in lumber yards. assert
ing, carrying and piling up heavy tim
bers, where the intelligence displayed
renders their labor invaluable They
seem to understand the object they are
expected TO accomplish, and voluntarily
perform many details without guidance
from their driver. This is one character
istic in which they show superiority over
the horse.
An elephants obedience to his keeper
is partly through affection and partly
from fear There is a general belief that
so strong does their attachment for their
old keepers become, that in the event of
a change they viii not obey the new one
When kindly treated they are as ODE
dent to the new keeper as to the old
as soon as they become familiar with
his voice. The punishment Of so power
full an animal is not an easy matter It
is customary in India to stop their al
share OF fodder until all their companions
have finished. When the culprit is thus
punished the consciousness of degrade
tiOns would be ludicrous did IL not excite
feeling OF sympathy and pity.
In both India and Ceylon the method
adopted to capture wild elephants is by
means Of the corral or keddah While
there is slight variation in each coun-
try in the construction Of the keddah
and in the manner in which they are
finally secured the drive and roundup
are identical. From twenty to eighty are
some times caught in a single drive, and
there has been upward Of one hundred
bagged az one time. These large catches
are for the government, many hundreds
being used by the army to transport
s1ppiieS and heavy guns I have vvft-