The Elephant 39 



The systems of rewards and punishments by which dis- 

 cipline is kept up in a large elephant stable, affords sev- 

 eral items of interest with respect to the character of these 

 beasts. If, as sometimes is the case, an elephant shirks 

 his work, or does it wrong on purpose, is mutinous, stub- 

 born, or mischievous, a couple of his comrades are pro- 

 vided with a fathom or two of light chain with which they 

 soundly thrash the delinquent, very much to his tempo- 

 rary improvement. This race is very fond of sweets, and 

 sugar-cane or goor — unrefined sugar — forms an efficient 

 bribe to good behavior. The animals take to drink very 

 kindly, and when their accustomed ration of rum has been 

 stopped for misconduct, they truly repent. Mostly, how- 

 ever, elephants are quiet, kindly beasts, and it is said by 

 those who ought to know, that animosity is not apt to be 

 cherished against men who correct them for faults of 

 which they are themselves conscious. At the same time, 

 nobody, if he is wise, gives an elephant cause to think 

 himself injured. Very often the creature entertains this 

 idea without cause, and it is not uncommon for them to 

 conceive hatreds almost at first sight. D'Ewes ("Sport- 

 ing in Both Hemispheres") relates one of the many re- 

 liable incidents illustrative of the animal's implacability 

 when aggrieved. A friend of his, a field officer stationed 

 at Jaulnah, owned an elephant remarkable for its "extreme 

 docility." One of the attendants — "not his mahout" — 

 ill-treated the creature in some way and was discharged in 

 consequence. This man left the station ; but six years 

 after he, unfortunately for himself, returned, and walked 

 up to renew his acquaintance with the abused brute, who 



