The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1900-07-20
HEAVY ARTILLERY IN REALITY
some of Great Britain's Indian Army
Guns Are Drawn by
Elephanfs.

In England's Indian army the heavy
artillery means much more than siege
guns or the permanent guns of fortifi-
cations. 1t means the elephant artil-
lery-a corps of heavy men, heavy ele-
plants, heavy bullocks and heavy guns
and ammunition. The guns which
have q long range, are just the kind
that would have proved invaluable in
South Africa. But the heavy brigade
as yet never has had a chance of dis
tinguishing itself.
1t is said that the eye is the window
of the soul. If this be true, the ele-
phantine eye is the exception. The bull
locks eye is large, soft brown, and full
of pathos, yet the animal itself is per-
haps more devoid of intelligence and
feeling than even the idiotic sheep. On
the other hand, the small, pig-like orb
of the elephant seems to contradict his
affectionate, reasonable nature. But
the military authorities know him and
treat him as he deserves, his life being
ordered and regulated almost as
though he were human soldier. He
is subject to stringent military disci-
pline; he has his kit and accoutrement;
he parades for his rations; goes on
route marches, salutes the officers, and
does fatigue duties, such as carrying
luggage or trampliEg down the mud
tennis courts in lieu of steam roller.
Each elephant, moreover, is provided
with record of service, age, height,
character, and so on, and the defaulter
sheet is kept like soldiers. Punish
ment awaits any breach of regulations,
and this means depriving him OF spe-
cial dainties, such as cakes and sugar
cane, in case of slight offenses, while
graver sins merit a severe thrashing,
administered by fellow elephant with
heavy iron chain.
The elephants home resembles long
row of giant railway tunnel openings,
the stable being built with high arches
to each stall. In front of the stable is
a broad, square space known as the
elephant lines, and here the animals
are picketed in two rows, each one be-
ing fastened to his allotted place by an
ankle chain. That this fastening bust
ness is mere matter of form is proved
by the fact that the elephants them
selves place the rings on their feet.
Appearances must be kept up and they
are the first to recognize this. 1t is in
the elephant lines that they take their
green fodder, the serving out of which
is prolonged but amusing proceeding.
Two and two the elephants go up to
the ration stand, and when the fodder
has been secured with ropes to their
backs the drivers mount on the top of
the pile, and off swing the big fellows,
the pleasure of anticipation giving an
extra spring to their usual leisurely
gait. When they have reached their
place in the lines the fodder is unload
ed, and, after fastening themselves up
according to regulations, they proceed
to demolish the bundles for the rest of
the day.
But even more interesting than the
parade for green fodder is the parade
for hupattis-chupattis being the Pc
culiar kind of cake which forms the ele-
plants other meal. Ranged in long
line, the solemn animals wait patient
ly until each driver has unrolled his
bundle and placed share of the cakes
close beside the trunk of his special
elephant. The little eyes twinkle, the
large ears flap and the animals edge
each other, shuttle about with their feet
and wave their trunks hither and
thither, now playfully Ticking a neigh
boris ear, now shifting at a neighbours
When at length the word
has gone to start feeding the men roll
Up the cakes and hand them to the ele-
plants, who take them daintily in the
.urve of the trunk and dispose of them,
each according to his special fancy.
One tears his chupattis in two and
FLOATS some time over it before putting
t away; another losses his share
'iecemeal into his capacious mouth; a
bird slyly watches his opportunity to
Itch bit from his neighbor, and thus
RAW on his head sound scolding from
he driver, who makes him return the
poll. They say that the elephants
Inow the exact weight and number of
hupattis they should have and abso-
utely refuse to take anything less than
heir due