Year: 1877

A slight sketch of the mode of pro-
ceeding adopted may be worth notice.
showing, as il does. that horses of high
courage under proper treatment exhibit
q wonderful amount of intelligence, and
soon become accustomed to the sight
and behavior of the widest and most
terrible of brutes. The first object is
to avoid anything like sudden fright,
and to have sufficient time and space At
command to enable those engaged in
such an undertaking to run no llsk vi
failure. 1t therefore required many
days to practice their introduction to
the various wild animals they are here
after likely to meet in the jungle. II
was only early in the morning, and BE-
fore visitors were admitted. that these
experiments could be carried ont. 1,
was decided that each horse should be
mou ,ted by an experienced and good
rider. Mr.. Prince. the stud-grooln to
his Royal Highness. and two grooms
selected for the purpose. arrived at the
appointed time, and, instead of enter
ing the gardens at once. We're slowly
ridden up to the park fence, on the
road known as the Outer Circle. and
from this position they could clearly see
the large male African elephant walking
about in the paddock; in this way they
felt somewhat safe, as they had the open
road before them, and the elephant be-
hind the fence. As soon as the horse.
had recovered their surprise at the sight
Of this animal they were ridden into
the gardens. and brought near enough
to the elephant 10 make a close inspec-
ton of his general appearance. They
were little nervous at first, more es-
pecially when the great brute set up his
large ears, and made an attempt to rush
toward the horses, and utter his shrill
note of alarm; they. however, soon be.
gan to acquire confidence, and cease
to start or jump from him. and. after
a day or two. would allow him, when let
out with them, to come close enough to
touch the end of his trunk. The next
thing Was to introduce to their notice
the large male Indian rhinoceros. How
ever quiet the horses We're inclined to
be. this savage monster was extremely
angry at the sight of the men on horse


back IN 80 close proximity to his abode.





around his paddock in frightful state
OF excitement, aud had it been in his
power to get at them he would, doubt
less, have made short work with his
new acquaintances. Notwithstanding
his fury, Coomassie behaved in a cool
and composed manner. 1t was delight
full to witness the watchful and intelli :
gen gaze with which this beautiful ami
NAL Kept his eyes upon the frantic and
enraged rhlnoceros, without exhibiting
any particular fear Or alarm; and no
doub. this coolness on his part assisted
greatly to quiet his two companions.
Cockney and Dashwood. 1t soon be-
came evident that the task would be
safely and perfectly accomplished. The
cameis were soon afterwards tried, an !
these appeared likely. at first, to afford
rather more trouble than the ele. han;
and rhinoceros. Their long. shaggy
hair, the strange humps, and queer
heads aud necks seemed to puzzle the
horses considerably; but after while
they allowed them to come hear enough
to smell them, and gradually acquire
more confidence, until they would stand
side by side and pass round or between
them. touching them with their noses,
and becoming qnite familiar. 1t may
appear singular, brt the horse COomas-
sic appeared to have a wish to examine
and revisit all the animals in the gar
dens; he required no urging to bring
him face to face with the lions and ii
gers, notwithstanding the excitement
into which the sight of the horse caused
these animals to fly; but Coomassie
louked at them with most inquirIng
eye. not appea ing in the slightest de-
gree alarmed. This, then, ended the
training Of three of the finest of the
Princes horses. Land and Wuter.