The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-11-03
STORIES OF ELEPHANTS.
Some of the Remarkable Things Done
 by Them,

Some of the Remarkable Things Done
 by Them.
 Of their marvellous mathematical pre- cision and ability to count, no doubt can exist in the mind of any one who has ever visited Mandalay, in Upper Burmah There large forests of teak are cultivated by the government for building purposes, and the squared tim another till a raft is formed to float down the Irrawaddy for conveyance to various stations. Elephants do the whole of this work. They convey the enormous loge down to the waters edge and pile them one above another, both lengthwise and across, till per- feet cube is formed. They show an in telligence and interest in their work that seems human, as any eyewitness can affirm whwo has watched an ele- phant at his loading, and then has seen him move a few paces to one side, in or der to judge of the effects of his work If the appearance of the heap is not quite symmetrical two elephants force the logs one way or the other with their trunks till they get the desired re- suit, and the perfect evenness and sym | metry of the finished cube is astonish- ing. They never miscalculate the num- Der required for each cube, and never | overweight it. In 1870 a near relative of mine was head of the Indian military office, and his winter circuit comprised | the Looshai country and hill tracts. Herds of wild elephants abounded in the district, which contained two inn | portant Keddahs.
 The greater part of our tour was made by water and once we were de- tained several days in the bed of a riv- i CT, through the insufficiency of water l for the draft of our boats. Some of them lay high and dry, but the office boat, which consisted of a single cabin with large doors fore and aft, was in the stream. My friend sat in his cabin 1 absorbed in official correspondence while we explored the shores. Sudden ly looking up, he was dismayed to find herd of about forty wild elephants headed by a vicious-looking leader gazing steadily at the boat and it's soli, tary occupant Stout soldier as he was he watched the leader with considera- ble trepidation for on his action de pended 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 2 sigh of relief, and had forgotten his lucky escape in the absorption of work when, swish! through the cabin came dash after dash of water On the op. posite side stood the leader and his herd, with well-filled trunks. One fatel the other administered the shower batf and then retreated, leaving my friend thoroughly ducked and very rueful ovel the damp condition of his government papers and surroundings, but thankful for his escape from a worse fate than z wetting. The prime minister of Nepa and the court were at that time ir holy Hardwar in order to bathe in the sacred Ganges, and perform their pill grimage to the "Hur Xxi Pyree," ol steps to heaven" and for their bene fit the elephants were made to go ic procession through the sacred town.
 Can any child picture a procession O. one hundred and fifty tame elephants il single file, headed by Bijli, and witt Narain bringing up the rear? It wa: truly a grand sight. They covered { mile and a quarter of road, and were a.
 orderly as soldiers in a marching regi ment. Through the town they marched each beast in it's place, in no way dis concerted by the populace or by thu screaming children, who joined in sing ing their nursery rhymes at each turl of the road. They think that Gune shin the god of wisdom, has his exist ence in an elehant's body, and so the. venerate the colossal beast immensely Their little voices, pitched at the high est, send out the couplet:
 Elephant, oh elephant, give us hair 0
 your tail!
 Or, instead thereof, sword of gold! It was aquaint, queer sight! Tn
 old town with its mosques and nina rets the sacred stairs of Vishnu,
 leading down to the blue waters edge the rests on the steps In gay sulphur colored garments, feeding the sacre fish, while the sacred monkeys wer 7 swarming everywhere. swinging fror branch to branch of the trees, feedin on the housetops and screaming an - playing. Below marched undisturbe
 the imposing procession of elephants } all bent on obedience, and wendin f their way, regardless of all distrac f tions.-Mrs. Marie A. Mills in St. Mich l OlaS.