Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-14

firma, where a good breakfast of broiled
teal awaited u.s. and over the meal we laugh
ed heartily at Earle's misadventure
Among the elephant attendants that l had,
there was one man called Abdool Guffoor,
native Of Lucknow, in Dude, tall, power
full, well-knit fellow, and noted wrestler
his elephant, and, as he boasted, could make
her do anything but speak.
10 show what she could do one evening
IN the lines, when work was all over, and
the animals secured for the night, having OBJ
Iained Ia ednny my permission, he caused himself to
pe pound securely to a tree with ropes.
his elephant was then unfastened and he
called to her to come to him. She came
up at once, at a trot, loudly trumpeting,
and passed her trunk caressingly over him.
lie spoke to her in dialect which none of
us understood, but the elephant appeared
to understand him perfectly, as she at once
set to work to undo the ropes with her
trunk.
1t was really wonderful to see this saga
c elous animal, n aided by word now and then
another, without breaking them, as deftly
ai.ay as any old salt could have. done, amid much
lwel done) from the onlookers.
IL was amusing to see the baby elephants
going out with their mothers to bring in
forage for the days consumption, the little
ones trotting along close up to or in front of
the matrons, who kept watchful eye on
tnelr troublesome charges and if they were
inclined TO stray too far away would, with
sweep OF their trunk, draw them back with
in bounds.
In crossing rivers they would carefully lit
ana carry their little ones over and deposit
them on the bank.
The oldest of the babies, whom I called
sampson, was most mischievous, tricky lit
Iie youngster. He would go round the lines,
preaRlng INTO the mems huts, searching for
an and eating up any edibles he could find
ll, iilsii, Hesh or fowl, 1T was all one to him-and
| then destroy their clothes
box was perfect treat to him, if he
couid not open it with his trunk he would
butt with his head until he broke it open,
when the contents would be destroyed much
10 the indignation of the owner.
he was always open to a wrestle or fight
Win the men. Standing in an open space IN
the centre OF the lines was a large teak tree,
round which the men usually assembled in
to Orientals. e''P - NNN-
:, sampson would make his appearance in
the centre of them, swaying his little trunk
from side to side, with droll leer in his eve
that meant mischief
a9 Alter gong round the circle, and being re-
pulsed IN his clumsy endearments, Sampson
would presently snatch off a mans turban.
with which he would attempt to make off:
the tthe owner would jump up and seize him. and
ala
plant. e-
Sampson would drop the turban and cbargc
ms assaiiant, endeavoring to knock him over,
while the man would endeayor to avoid the
rush and upset his antagonist; but I am
bound to say that Sampson USUALLY had the
pest OF 1t, unless two or three men tackled
TREND of mine came down to the river
one afternoon to see the animals bathing.
anu anu we were looking on amused at the gam
oois OF sampson, who was no longer an oh
lect OF anxiety to his loving mamma. he
being now well able to look after himself,
going out daily with the other elephants and
carrying in his own forage.
Ihe elephants were lying down in the
shallow water, their drivers astride of them.
sscr,9ebblng s,e away, while the huge animals,
half immersed, enjoyed the cool water.
sampson was in his glory, moving in and
cut, sometimes catching man by his waist
clo9n ana pulling him under water, quickly
making his escape before the victim cot un.
splntterlng and vowing vengeance
Inc youngster at last discovered me on the
oank, and knowing l always carried f,nit
Tor him, made for me at once. NV friend
Winston would not let Sampson come out of
me Ihe wafer, and being a very strong man was
able to push him back each time he tried
At last the youngster became angry and
made some ugly rushes at Winston. i called
out to let the youngster come and Samson
soon trotted up, made his salaam, and was
presently exploring my pockets for fruit.
we now walked a little way down t,-.
river bank, and Winston (who. byetbe-waT
was an engineer) was describing the kind ~
bridge they were going to throw across the
stream. ~
At the point where we were STANDING va
were close to the waters edge, and were deem
in the mysteries of cantilevers, trusses. and
other engineering appliances, when INV }r;an5
uvaS 1oL.-