Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-05

L
| wv are among the cata-
log u e of vir-
| tues which he
| ascribes to these creatures. The Cartha-
| ginians were the first to utilize him in
| European warfare. and it is a remarkable
fact they, and they only have been able to
educate the African species of the race for
human uses In ancient times. as many as
dozen bowmen and spearmen fought from
the vantage ground Of a wooden structure
called the tower, mounted on it's back. In
India, from the remoteSt antiquity, it
formed one OF the most picturesque. If not
the most effective features in the armies of
the native princes. With their huge heads
defended with iron plates. to which were
attached long spears. these animals were
very formidable in charge. They have
also been taught to cut and thrust with q
kind Of scimetar carried in the trunk.
Elephants live in herds. and each herd
has a leader. generally the largest and
most powerful animal. He seems to eXer-
else much control over the movements Of
the herd gives the alarm in case of danger,
and seems to decide for the whole party as
to the safety of proceeding in any particu-
lar direction. An animal which by any
cause has become separated from its herd
seems never to be admitted into another.
They become savage and much dreaded,
while from a herd Of elephants danger Is
never apprehended.
The FnvOrite Haunts.
The favorite haunts Of the wild elephants
are in the depths of the forest. particularly
in mountainous regions, where they browse
on branches and from which they issue
chiefly in the cool Of the evening to pas
ture in the more open grounds. They are
ready to plumber rice or other grain fields.
IL not deferred by fences, of which, fortu-
nately. they have wholesome dread Ele-
plants intended for domestication are cap
formerly
common to take them in pitfalls. but in
this way they were frequently much in
tured. Another method often practiced is
by the aid Of tame elephants. Male ele-
plants are chiefly captured in this way
the decoy elephants being females trained
for the purpose. Two Of the females take
their places one on each side Of the
stranger, and while he Is interested in
them, the natives who spend their lives in
the intended captive. When finally the ele-
plant is secured and becomes sensible of
his danger. his fury becomes ungovernable
and he makes violent efforts to get free
1t Is not until he has thoroughly exhausted
himself. and begins to suffer severely from
fatigue. hunger, and thirst, that steps are
taken toward tanning him.
In shooting elephants various devices have
TO be arranged by which the hunter can
get within easy range of his prey without
alarming 1t. The spot selected is usually
IN the vicinity of some stream where the
animals come for water. Secreted behind
screen of bushes, the sportsman can
select some vulnerable spot for the tough
hide Of the elephant resists ball with
little difficulty unless great care be exer-
cised by the hunter.
Strength of It's Legs.
In captivity elephants have been known
to sleep for months standing up, and in
some menageries the keepers infer that the
animal is i'll If II lies down during the
night. In fact, it's legs support 1t SO well
that one sportsman printed an account of
his firing at an elephant over and over
again, and at last, coming up to 1t, found
that 1t had died standing up. Elephants
are very conservative. and do not like what
they are not accustomed to. They are by
no means towards, but, like other animals
of undoubted courage, they may be fright
ened by unfamiliar objects. 1t Is known
that an old woman once escaped from an
enraged elephant by opening an umbrella
and In the same way herd will fly from
the yelp OF dog. A story is told of a
little Scotch terrier that seized an elephant
by the trunk. and SO frightened the big
brute that II came at once on it's knees.
The distrust which an elephant has for a
horse Is founded on the same grounds
Before the Prince OF Wales tarted on his
journey to India, his horses were taken
several mornings to the Zoo and were walk
ed round the elephants and. other animals
so as to accustorn them to forms they
might see little more frequently in the
east.
The elephant is probably held in greater
affection and veneration in Burman than
any other part of the world. 1t was there
that the writer first saw one of the renown-
ed white elephants that are held in such
high estima ton. 1t was not really white
either. but of dirty yellowisil color net
at all handsome and probably the light
color is caused by a species of leprosy. This
kind is an albino among elephants. The
Burmese have gone to war Nth the 81
ameSe on several occasions fo- the poSses-
sion of the white elephants. Large rewards
were formerly given to anyone who dis
covered the whereabouts of :. white ele-
plant. No native would attempt to cap
ture 1t for himself, it being reasonable
N IONS fn htlf had 70 i,>co
king where the animal was
Capturing a White Elephant,
The capture was usually effected with
the aid of a handsome tame female who
acted the part of decoy to perfection. The
decoy would attract his attention pretend
she did not desire his proffercl caresses
and walk away in the direction of the in
closure made for his reception. The VIC
tim follows her blindly, Is caught, subdued
and led In state to the king. Here lie is
decorated with golden ornaments. placed in
and fruit.
The cause of all this respect paid to the
white elephant is the universal belief in
the transmigration Of souls prevalent in
all the oriental nations to the east of Hin
b 200 nt The souls or spirits of those who
mad achieved the greatest good on earth
are believed to fill the bodies of white
creatures. The essence of the Buddhas.
can only inhabit the bodies Of white ami
mails. such as the occasional white mon
Key, swans and doves.
Thus the king, by obtaining such an ami
NAL might possibly be the happy and hon
ored possessor Of Buddha. The writer was
informed that the money value of a white
elephant was fully $4,000. The King of
siam has several of these rare animals
who are taken great care Of have a retinue
OF servants to attend upon them and are
accorded royal honors.
The story of how these kings formerly
OF their subjects who were becoming too
wealthy Is well known. One of these
white elephants was sent to the individual
desired to be humbled as a valuable gift
from the king. The luckless nobleman
dared not refuse the present as he valued
his life, but was Obliged to receive the
animal. build a special residence for him
stately comfort. The result was gener-
ally the financial ruin Of the person who
mad received the fatal gift This accom-
pnsned the king took possession of the
elephant again.
In Burmah the elephant is the general
beast OF burden, and the government has
a number of them. Each elephant has his
at work. Their mahouts often take adj
vantage of their sagacity, and SO save
themselves trouble.
Building a Telegraph Line
The writer once had the good fortune to
witness a troop of elephants building a
telegraph line. The telegraph follows the
advance of the troops. to secure rapid COM
munlcation with the rear. First track
was made by telling all timber and clearing
off any underground to about twenty feet
in width. hundreds of natives being EN-
ployed. Such trees as were suita Bile in
length We're trimmed down for telepra nh