Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-06-14

animal than is the teak indus
try on those of the elephant
In Java, 1t is true, the timber, being
smaller and the conditions different.
hand labor and implements are en-
ployed, and in, parts even of Burma
and Siam the country is sufficiently
fiat to permit the carting by buffaloes
being used as method Of extraction
But these parts are comparatively few
and far between, and the obstacles in
the way of introducing heavy plants
into country deficient in good roads,
bridges or facilities for transport must
be at once apparent. writes CORE
spondent of the London Times. Even
without these obstacles 1t is doubtful
whether teak. being 80 scattered as
it is, could ever be profitably worked
up and down steep hillsides by ma.
chinery, while 1t Is as certain as any.
thing can be that no machinery could
ever devised to perform the part
played by elephants in the water
Apart from the enormous bodily
strength which enables 1t to drag, an
elephant can, with it's forehead, trunk
or tusks, push and roll enormous logs
about as If they were playthings, nor
does 1t mind working in water five
feet, and even more, in depth.
Asiatic Differs From African.
The Asiatic elephant. which belongs
to an entirely different species from
the African and resembles the latter
hardly more closely than the buffalo
does the OK, is. like the teak tree, con-
fined mainly to India, Farther India
and the Malay peninsula. Wild herds
are still found in Burma and Siam,
where they are carefully protected. a
special license being required TO shoot
them In the former country and the
law forbidding their destruction ex-
cept in cases of necessity. or for self
defenes in the latter. Every few
years the Siamese government holds
"keddah" operations or catches at
Ayuthia, and by their agency the do
mesticated are recruited from the free
herds.
That apart from its work, the condi-
tions under which the elephant Is to
live in captivity should as closely as
possible resemble those of it's wild
state will naturally be the owners
first care. 1t is purely herbivorous
animal, and thrives well on the erdi-
nary jungle plants and creepers, the
juicy "kaing' grass. young bamboo
shoots and wild plantain being among
It's favorite foods. In Siam, 1t is
hardly ever stall fed. as 1t is in India;
in the neighborhood of town or vii,
lage, when 1t has to be tied up. food
must, of course, be brought to It.. But,
as a general rule, the animal is sim
ply turned out int othe jungle to find
its food for itself, the forefeet being
hobbled to prevent Its straying too far.
Among its primary requisites are
shade and abundance of water. Given
these and good grazing, an elephant
has fa'~ chance Of keeping its con-
dition 1! lughout the seven months
which constitute It's working season
The latter begins. as already stated.
in June. From that time onward. the
animals daily and weekly routine is
something as follows: Directly it is
daylight the rider leaves his camp
goes out to track his charge. which,
despite his hobbled condition, will
often succeed in straying distance
OF several miles; bathes him all over
In the creek-this is one of the most
important OF the mahout's duties-and
brings him to the scepe Of the- days
work. Operations begin at seven a.
M. or a little before, and go on till
IL, by which time the power of the
sun generally renders 1t imprudent to
continue further. For 1t must be re-
membered that the elephant is natur
ally a nocturnal animal and extremely
liable to sunstroke. On the compile
ton OF their days work the animals
are brought to camp. Invested of their
gear. hobbled and turned out into the
Jungle Toward evening the riders
pay them another visit to make sure
that their charges have not slipped
their hobbies. as they occasionally
manage to do, or been walked OF by
a gang of thieves. who till lately In
tested some parts of Siam. and even
now are not unknown. The elephants
are inspected by the foreman in
charge OF the camp. bathed and left