392 Mammatta oF InpiA. 
Sir Emerson Tennent says: ‘‘ When free in its native woods the 
elephant evinces rather simplicity than sagacity, and its intelligence 
seldom exhibits itself in cunning ;” yet in the next page he goes on to 
relate a story told to him of a wild elephant when captured falling 
down, and feigning to be dead so successfully that all the fastenings 
were taken off; ‘‘ while this was being done he and a gentleman by 
whom he was accompanied leaned against the body to rest. They had 
scarcely taken their departure and proceeded a few yards when, to their 
astonishment, the elephant arose with the utmost alacrity, and fled 
towards the jungles screaming at the top of its voice, its cries being 
audible long after it had disappeared in the shades of the forest.” If 
this be correct it shows a considerable amount of cunning. 
Both Mr. Sanderson and Sir Emerson Tennent agree on the subject 
of the rarity of the remains of dead elephants. I have never been in 
real elephant country ; the tracks of such as I have come across have 
been merely single wanderers from the Bilaspore herds, or probably 
elephants escaped from captivity. Forsyth once came upon the bones 
of a small herd of five that had been driven over a precipice from the 
summit of a hill, on which there was a Hindoo shrine, by the drums 
and music of a religious procession. 
The following taken from Mr. Sanderson’s lecture is interesting as 
regards the constitution of the herds: “Herds of elephants usually 
consist of from thirty to fifty individuals, but much larger numbers, 
even upwards of a hundred, are by no means uncommon. A herd is 
always led by a female, never by a male. In localities where fodder is 
scarce a large herd usually divides into parties of from ten to twenty. 
These remain at some little distance from each other, but all take part 
in any common movement, such as a march into another tract of forest. 
These separate parties are family groups, consisting of old elephants 
with their children and grandchildren. It thus happens that, though 
the gregaricus instincts of elephants prompt them to form large 
gatherings, if circumstances necessitate it a herd breaks up under 
several leaders. Cases frequently occur when they are being hunted ; 
each party will then take measures for its individual safety. It cannot 
be said that a large herd has any safreme leader. Tuskers never 
interest themselves in the movement of their herds; they wander much 
alone, either to visit cultivation, where the females, encumbered with 
young ones, hesitate to follow, or from a love of solitude. Single 
‘elephants found wandering in the forests are usually young males— 
animals debarred from much intimate association with the herds by 
stronger rivals; but they usually keep within a few miles of their 
companions. ‘These wandering tuskers are only biding their time until 
they are able to meet all comers in a herd. The necessity for the 
females regulating the movements of a herd is evident, as they must 
