io8 The Life of a7i Klepha7it 



such occasions he was reminded by a peremptory 

 order In elephant language, intelligible to him- 

 self and to the clan of mahouts, but conveying 

 no meaning whatever to those outside this close 

 corporation. As the afternoon wore on, he 

 would find himself on the banks of river or lake 

 and, wading In, would take a prolonged bath, 

 emerolno- w^th soft, black skin, cleansed from 

 all impurities, then stride away back to camp, 

 knowing far too well to again soil himself with 

 dust or mud and so provoke the displeasure of 

 his driver. 



Then followed the long, calm night, when the 

 moon shone In misty brilliance over the forest, 

 and the jungle tribes came out to feed and play. 

 I'he elephant knew each one by sight or sound. 

 When the tigress roared for her cubs to rejoin 

 her, or the tiger growled w^ith rage after un- 

 successful hunting the elephant understood what 

 was In their thouo-hts. When the deer o-ave 

 their alarm cry, the bell of sambhar, the w^hlstle 

 of spotted deer, the baying of barking-deer 

 were as if the difficulties and dano-ers of the 

 jungle life were being related to him ; he stood 



