The advocate., 1897-10-20
STORIES OF ELEPHANTS,

DLOhLIh VI hAlA44 AAAALl ARl
Mrs. Marie "A. Millie had some "StO-
ries of Elephants" in September st.
Nicholas Mrs. Millie says:
"Of their marvellous mathematical pre-.
clsion and ability to count no doubt
can exist in the mind of any one who
has ever visited Mandalay, in Upper
Burma. There large forests Of teak are
cultivated by the government for build
ing purposes, and the squared timbers
are placed and secured one above an.
other until raft is formed to float down
the Irrawaddy for conveyance to va
rious stations Elephants do the whole
of this work. They convey the enor'
nous logs down to the waters edge and
pile them one above the other, both
lengthwise and across, till perfect
cube is formed. They show an intelli-
gence 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. If the APP
pearance Of the heap is not quite SYM
metrical two elephants force the logs
OuG way vi bllC OLuCl WILL ILACAA u uhAAo
till they get the desired result; and the
perfect evenness and symmetry OF the
finished cube is astonishing. They never
lniscalculate the number required for
each cube, and never overweight 1t. In
1870 a near relative Of mine was head
of the Indian military police, and his
winter circuit comprised the LoOshai
country and hill tracts. Herds Of wild
elephants abOunded in the district, which
contained two important Kheddahs.
''The greater part of our tour was
made by water; and once we were de-
tained several days in the bed of river
through the insuficiency Of the water
for the draft of our boats. Some Of
them lay high and dry, but the Office
boat, which consisted Of single cabin,
with large doors fore and aft, was in the
stream. My friend sat in his cabin,
absorbed in official correspondence,
while we explored the shores Suddenly
looking up he was dismayed to find
herd of about forty wild elephants,
headed by vicious-looking leader, gaz-
ing steadily at the boat and its solitary
occupant. Stout soldier as he was, he
watched the leader with considerable
trepidation; for on his action depended
that to be adopted by the herd. To his
immense relief, after trumpet or two,
the leader turned disdainfully and
crossed the stream. He breathed sigh
Of relief, and had forgotten his lucky
escape in the absorption of work-when,
swish! though the cabin door came dash
after dash of water On the opposite
side stood the leader and his herd, with
well-fllled 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 es-
cape from a worse fate than wetting.
The Prime Minister Of Nepal with the
court were at one time in holy Hardwar
in order TO bathe in the sacred Ganges
and perform their pilgrimage to the
'Hur XII Pyree,' or steps to heaven
and for their benefit the elephants were
made to go in procession through the
sacred town.
Can any child picture procession OF
$50 tame elephants in single file, headed
by Bill, and with Narain bringing up
the rear? 1t was truly grand sight.
They covered mile and quarter of
road, and were as orderly as soldiers
I'm marching regiment. Through the