The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-05-05
THE ARR IAN ELE-
PLANT.
Catholic Fathers Train Young Animal
for Draught Purposes.

Catholic Fathers Train Young Animal
for Draught Purposes.
African elephants were trained to
work, in ancient times just as their
cousins in India are now taught to car
ry burdens and draw loads. In the me-
nageries of this country and Europe the
| African elephant has proved no less
| docile and teachab BILE than the indian
| animal. Many persons have asserted,
| however, without good reason, that it
| is impossible to domesticate the Afri-
can elephant and make him valuable
for draught and porterage purposes in
Africa, where domestic animals are
scarce and the elephant would be
great boon if he could be made to Ia
Dor.
The few experiments made in Africa
to train the elephant have generally
failed, and on account, doubtless, of
improper training the animal has bad
reputation he does not deserve. In
Uganda, however, an elephant was
thoroughly domesticated several years
ago by the natives, who utilized his
strength in their daily toll. Other ef-
NAL to work are now in progress and
promise good results; and on the west
coast at the Catholic mission OF Ste.
Anne at Fernan-VaZ the fathers nave
just made a successful effort to domes-
ticate young male, and though he has
been in training only a year, he is now
employed in the labors of the mission.
The young animal was purchased
soon after he was caught from natives
of the Pahouin tribe who live IN the
Gaboon region near the west coast. Inc
fathers decided to do their best to make
the young fellow useful. At first he
was placed in close confinement. He
showed fear and repugnance at the
sight of negroes, which seemed to prove
that his captors had maltreated him.
In his prison he got his first idea that
the white men were his masters, for he
found that he was unable to destroy the
walls that hemmed him in, and after
month he gave up all attempts to es-
cape, and day by day grew calmer until
at last he was quite docile and content
cd In a few weeks he began to take
food from the hands of the fathers, and
then permitted himself to be caressed
on the head, but invariably resented the
familiarity when any one touched his
trunk.
After two months Of prison life the
next stage of training began. In ASIA
sharp, pointed sticks with which
to prod the wild animals are prominent
in the process of tanning, but the tath-
ers of the African mission preferred
milder regime. They began by tying
rope around his neck and then induced
him to walk, while one of the fathers
led him. When he refused to follow ne
was pushed gently but firmly from be-
hind Sometimes he was stubborn ana
then the rope was drawn tightly around |
his neck. If he still resisted the fathers
got grip on his budding tusKs, ana |
this always brought him to terms. Al
ter while any one of the fathers was
able to lead him as he would a horse.
As he was destined to see a great
MANY negroes all his life, it was desira-
bic that he cultivate more friendly re-
lations with them, So efforts were made
to induce him to follow negroes When
they held his rope. His grievance
against them, however, was still a sore
SPOT in his memory, and at first he re-
fused to have anything to do with them.
# was found that he would permit ne
gro children to lead him, and by, de-
grees. little children being replaced by
large ones and then all children by
adults, he grew to like negroes OF all
sizes and ages. Then he would do for
anybody all that he had been trained
to do.
After his days training it was often
difficult to make him enter his prison
yard again, but when ripe bananas were
Used as a bait he was enticed within
he Enclosure without difficulty. For
,wo months the fathers drilled him in
1othing except walking behind his
eader. When this lesson was thorough
Y learned they put a sort of collar on
his neck. to which a piece of wood
seventy pounds was attached,
md in his daily exercise he had to drag
his weight along the ground. Having
advanced so far toward civilization, the
,oung fellow received the name of Fritz.
rhe weight he drew was gradually in
,reased until he was able to haul large
Dad
To-day Fritz is an accomplished and
Wiling draught animal, perfectly gem
lie, greatly attached to those who treat
lim we'll, and one of the most useful
lttaches of the Fernan-Vaz mission.
lie is often employed also for riding
The experiment of the faith
rs has been a complete success, and
no better method of tanning
md utilizing the African elephant can
,e devised than that which they en-
lowed TO make Fritz q useful animal
Iew York Sun.