Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-05

taken to the kraal Of Kira-vuneu.
where the real training began. There
he was gradually accustomed to bear
the weight of a young negro appointed
his special keeper. For few DAVIS
the elephant spent most of the time In
various contortions to rid itself OF the
human burden. After finally becoming
used to bearing a man on it's back,
inside the kraal. the elephant was TAX
EN- long walks in the open. and reward
ed on the return with a few bananas
once well used to being ridden. the
animal was trained to be driven
Ihis task lasted several weeks. and
after great difficulties the elephant
was accustomed to be harnessed to a
cart In the mean time other young
elephants We're captured by Command
ant Laplume's men and put through
a similar process Of training. Those
most easily managed are between
| three and four years old
There is good reason, therefore, to
hope that Notwithstanding numerou.
previous fruitless attempts, the Afri-
can elephant will become like it's In
dian cousin, valuable aid to man in
the tropics. 1t is regarded as a pity
that the movement for the protection
and domestieation of the elephant in
| the Congo should have been delayed
! until the race has been almost entire
ly eXterminated by European and ma
| tive ivory hunters. In former days
| the Congo natives, before the arrival
| of European coloniStS, killed OF only
a certain number of elephants every
year. and confined their slaughter to
the male adults. But lately the ma
tives have been killing old and young
animals. whether male or female.
Spurred by the greed OF European
ivory traders. Now, however. the Con-
go government has taken energetic
measures TO end the ruthless slaughter
of elephants in the Free State. By Il
special decree from King Leopold ele-
phant hunting in the State is forbid
den to all those who have not a per-
nit from the government. This per-
nit is extremely difficult to obtain.
Ii has taken all the brutality Of the
African aborigines. melted by the Gu
pidity of Arab and European ivory
traders, to transform the elephant in
to a savage and ferocious animal. In
order 10 fully realize the effect of kind
treatment on the elephant, it is only
necessary to compare the veneration,
respect and genuine affection with
which the animal is surrounded in In
dia, on the one hand, and the stupid
barbarity Of the African natives. on
the other.
The elephant renders such great SER
vices to the Hindoos that, in their
gratitude. the animal has been ele-
f1.a r,t M n
The English government in India
makes use of elephants in various de-
partments of the state administration.
In the engineer corps they are employ
ed to carry materials for building
roads and bridges. In the lumber dis
tricts they are invaluable for carry
ing logs from the forests to the saw
mills Il task which they perform
with the greatest deXterity. But 1t Ia
more particularly in the army, for the
transportation Of artillery over steep
and dangerous mountain passes. that
the elephant is useful.
In former days an attempt was made
by the African Association to intro
duce the Asiatic elephant into the Con-
go regions. The success of the famous
Abyssinian campaign was largely due
to The services rendered by forty-four
Indian elephants in carrying the heaVy
British artillery across the mountain
Gus region Of Ethiopia. In 1879. there
fore four Indian elephants were land
ed at M'sasani. in the Congo. but me
animals lived only n few months. me
failure Of this attempt led to the sup
nos,,i ion that the Asiatic elephant
could not stand the Congo climate.