78 



CHAPTER VIII. 



THE ELEPHANT IN CAPTIVITY. 



CONSIDERATION OF THE ELEPHANT'S INTELLIGENCE — THE DOMESTIC ELEPHANT'S TEMPERA- 

 MENT — FALLACIES REGARDING THE POWER OF THE TRUNK — ORIENTALS' IDEAS OF 

 PERFECTION IN ELEPHANTS — THEIR BREEDS OR CASTES — KOOMERIAHS — DWASALAS — 

 MEERGAS — DISTINGUISHING POINTS — WHITE ELEPHANTS — SPECIAL VALUE OF TUSKERS 



RULE AND REASON FOR CUTTING TUSKS — ECONOMIC USES IN DRAUGHT — AS BEASTS 



OF BURDEN — OF DISPLAY — RIDING-ELEPHANTS — SHIKAR ELEPHANTS — ELEPHANT- 

 MARTS — EXPORT FROM CEYLON — PRICES OF ELEPHANTS — PAST — PRESENT — PROBABLE 

 FUTURE OF THE MARKET — REQUIREMENTS IN ELEPHANTS AND MEANS OF SUPPLY TO 

 THE BENGAL GOVERNMENT — THE DACCA KHEDDAH ESTABLISHMENT — BENGAL LICENCE 

 SYSTEM OF CAPTURING ELEPHANTS — MEANS OF SUPPLY OF ELEPHANTS TO THE 

 MADRAS GOVERNMENT — KHEDDAHS IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY — THE BURMAH 

 MARKET — APPENDIX ON BREEDING OF ELEPHANTS. 



THE opinion is generally held by those who have had the best oppor- 

 tunities of observing the elephant, that the popular estimate of its 

 intelligence is a greatly exaggerated one ; that, instead of being the excep- 

 tionally wise animal it is believed to be, its sagacity is of a very mediocre 

 description. Of the truth of this opinion no one who has lived amongst 

 elephants can entertain any doubt. It is a significant fact that the natives 

 of India never speak of the elephant as a peculiarly intelligent animal ; and 

 it does not figure in their ancient literature for its wisdom, as do the fox, 

 the crow, and the monkey. 



The elephant's size and staid appearance, its gentleness, and the ease 

 with which it performs various services with its trunk, have probably given 

 rise to the exalted idea of its intellect amongst those not intimately 

 acquainted with it. And its being but little known in Europe, whilst 

 what is known of it justly makes it a general favourite, leads to tales of 

 its intelligence being not only accepted without investigation, but welcomed 



