CHAPTER XII 



Processional Duties 



XT was amongst scenes similar to those de- 

 ^ picted that the elephant Maula Bux spent 

 many years of his life, till advancing age impaired 

 his agility and increasing bulk interfered with 

 his speed. He had grown in imposing beauty 

 with good treatment and with the comparative 

 freedom of a sporting life, and his value was 

 now so great that they hesitated to expose him 

 further to the chances of a forest life. He was 

 sold to an Indian Prince to enhance the dignity 

 of the State, to carry the ruler in procession, to 

 be lent to those guests whom his owner wished 

 to honour by affording sport with absolute safety 

 amongst the more dangerous of the jungle tribes. 

 His driver, of course, accompanied him into 

 this change of life ; for probaby without his old 

 friend, the elephant would have become useless 



