The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-09-09
Capturing Wild Elephants.

j. b. Gaylord, who was for many years
Barnums purchasing agent, says in the
Kansas City Journal In this sketch [
will give some of the peculiarities and hab-
its of, as well as an accurate description Of
the methods used in capturing wild ele-
plants. A long and varied experience
with this interesting animal, both in its
natural state and in captivity, has enabled
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 peaceful,
living on terms of amity with all denizens
of the jungle. They are often seen feed
ing in close proximity to other animals,
a horse belonging to an English 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 in
stantly alarmed on the appearance of any
animal or object with which they are not
familiar. Notwithstanding its natural gen.
tleness and docility, the temper of an ele-
plant in captivity cannot be relied upon (;
the most gentle and docile are liable to fits
of fury even after years of submission.
The males have more irritable dispositions
than the females, aud are generally more
manageable The sullen and morose
are yer to be trusted
A herd is a family, not group accident-
ally thrown together there is family re-
semblance, the same color of eyes, the
same shape of forehead and slope of back,
all pointing to a common lineage and rela-
tionship The largest and most powerful
OF the herd is generally the commander,
and is by common consent followed as
leader. These family herds are extremely
clannish and admit no elephant to compan-
ionship not born within the fold, nor one
that strays and remains away i0r any
length of time If by accidept an Gle,
plant becomes separated from his own
herd he is not allowed to attach himself to
? amy other He may feed in the vicinity,
drink and battle at the same place, but in
innate association is under no circumstance
permitted. There can be no doubt but
this serves to produce that class of solitary
elephants which are known as rogues.
They prowl about the plantations, destroy
ing and trampling 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
add many Of the females in India, Bur
mah Siam, and Africa have large tusks, in
Ceylon no female and not ope male in 100
has them. A Singalese elephant rarely
attains a height of nine feet, while those
of India, Siam. and Africa are sometimes
over eleven feet in height. The smallest
and most delicate are from the islands of
Sumatra and Borneo.
Next to the dog, the elephant is perhaps
the most sagacious of all animals, and in
this respect hae not been overrated. When
in its native woods, the elephant exhibits
simplicity rather than sagaeity, and seldom
eyinces cunning, although there have been
cases of his feigning death in order to re-
gain freedom.
There is vast difference in elephants.
The natives of India divide them into
castles. In Singalese work called "Has-
tisilpe, which treats of the elephant, the
writer Jays the marks of inferior breeding
are ''eyes restless like those of crow, the
face wrinkled, the tongue curved and
black, the nail sshort, ears small, neck thin,
the tail without tuft, and the torequar-
tiers lean and low" while perfection of
form and beauty consists in the ''softness
of the skin, the red color Of the mouth and
tongue, the forehead expanded aud 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
smooth, round and polished.
The duration of life in the elephant is
matter of uncertainty, many writers alot-
ing as high as 200 years There is, how
ever, no authentic case on record of an ele-
plant attaining that age. Fleurens, in his
treatise, "Human Longevity, 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 cartiages. This
eonsummation takes place at 80 in the
elephant, in a man at 90, in the horse at
8, aud in dogs at 2 years Of age. Accord
ing to this theory, the respective normal
age of each would be, for the elephant,
$50 years for man, 100 years for the
horse, % years, and the dog, 10 years.
Among the natives of India there are ira
ditions of their reaching the age Of 200
and 800 years, but the Europeans and
those in charge Of tame ones assert that 80
years is common to both man and ele-
phant, aud thai symptoms of debility often
appear at 80. ] an Of the opinion that
as many elephants live to the age Of $50
years as mankind do to the age Of 100
years in proportion 10 their numbers.
In Burmah and Siam they are extensive
" employed in lumber yards, asserting,
carrying, and piling up heavy iimbers,
where the intelligence displayed renders