New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-31
STORIES OF ELEPHANTS.

SOME OF THE REMARKABLE THINGS DONE BY
THEM.
Mrs Marie A. Mills. In st. Nicholas.
or their marvellous mathematic precision and
ability to count. no doubt can exist in the mind
OF any who has ever visited Mandalay in
Upper Burmah. There large forests OF teak are
cultivated by the Government for building pur-
poses and the squared timbers are placed and
secured one above another till raft is formed
To float down the Irrawaddy for conveyance to
various stations. Elephants do the whole OF
this work They convey the enormous logs
down to the waters edge and pile them
above another. both lengthwise and across, till
perfect cube is formed. They show an in
telligence and interest in their work that seems
human, as any eyewitness can affirm who has
watched an elephant at his loading and then
has seen him move a few PAGES TO one side in
order to Judge OF the effects OF his work. IL the
appearance OF the heap is not quite SYMMETRY
cal two elephants force the logs one way or
the other with their trunks till they get the
desired result and the perfect evenness ana
symmetry Of the finished cube is astonishing.
They never miscalculate the number required
for each cube and never overweight it, In 1870
a near relative Of mine was head of the Indian
military police. and his winter circuit com
pissed the Looshai country and hill tracts
Herds OF wild elephants abounded in the dis
trct, which contained two important kheddahs.
The greater part Of our tour was made by
water: and once We were detained several days
I'm the bed OF a river. through the insufiicency
Of water for the draft of our boats. Some Of
them lay high and dry. but the ofiice-boat.
which consisted Of a single cabin with large
doors fore and aft. was in the stream. Ny
friend sat in his cabin. absorbed in official cor
respondence while We explored the shores. Sud
denly looking up he was dismayed To find a
herd of about forty wild elephants. headed by
a vicious looking leader. gazing steadily at the
boat and it's solitary occupant. Stout soldier
as he was he watched the leader with con-
siderable trepidation for on his action depended
that To be adopted by the herd. To his inn
mense relief after trumpet or two. the leader
turned disdainfully and crossed the stream He
breathed a sigh of relief, ana had forgotten his
lucky escape in the absorption OF work-whcn.
swish, through the cabin came dash after dash
of water on the opposite side stood the leader
and his herd. with well-lilled trunks. one after
the other administered the shower bath and
then retreated. leaving my friend thoroughly
ducked and very rueful over the damp condition
Of his Government papers and surroundings,
but thankful for his escape from a worse fate
than n Wettine. The Prime Minister of Nepal
and the Court were at that time in holy Hard
war in order To battle in the sacred Gauges, and
perform their pilgrimage To the "Hur HI
Pyree." or steps To heaven and for their bene-
fit the elephants We're made To go in procession
through the sacred town.
Can any child picture a procession or loo tame
elephants in single file. headed by Bill. and
with Narain bringing up the rear? It was
truly a grand sight. They covered a mile and
4 quarter OF road and were as orderly SOL
ders in a marching regiment. Through the
town they marched. each beast in its place. in
no way disconnected by the populace or by the
screaming children. who joined in singing their
nursery rhymes at each turn Of the road They
hink that Gunoshin. the god OF wisdom, has
his existence in an elephants body. and so
hey ycnerate the colossal beast immensely
Their little voices. pitched at the highest. send
)ut the couplet:
Elephant oh elephant give us hair of your tall
Or. instead thereof. sword OF gold.
1t was quaint, queer sight. The old town
With its mosques and mnarets; the sacred
stairs OF Nshnu," leading down To the blue
waters edge; the priests on the steps in gay
sulphur -cOlOred garments. feeding the sacred
ish while the sacred monkeys We're swarming
everywhere. swinging from branch to branch OF
he trees. feeding on the housetOps and scream
M and playing Below marched undisturbed
he imposing procession Of elephants all bent
m obedience. and vending their way, regardless
If all distractions.