Mode of attack. 87 



rush fonvard in a body, as buffaloes or bisons do, but 

 only one elephant at a time moves in advance of the 

 rest to confront, or, as it is called, to " charge," the 

 assailants. I have heard of but one instance in which 

 two so advanced as champions of their companions. 

 Sometimes, indeed, the whole herd will follow a leader, 

 and manoeuvre in his rear like a body of cavalry ; but 

 so large a party are necessarily liable to panic \ and, one 

 of them having turned in alann, the entire body retreat 

 with terrified precipitation. 



As regards boldness and courage, a strange variety of 

 temperament is observable amongst elephants, but it may 

 be affirmed that they are much more generally timid 

 than courageous. One herd may be as difficult to ap- 

 proach as deer, gliding away through the jungle so gently 

 and quickly that scarcely a trace marks their passage \ 

 another, in apparent stupor, will huddle themselves 

 together like swine, and allow their assailant to come 

 within a few yards before they break away in terror ; and 

 a third will await his approach without motion, and then 

 advance with fury to the " charge." 



In individuals the same differences are discernible ; 

 one flies on the first appearance of danger, whilst 

 another, alone and unsupported, will face a whole host 

 of enemies. When wounded and infuriated with pain, 

 many of them become literally savage ;' but, so unac- 

 customed are they to act as assailants, and so awkward 



' Some years ago an elephant which trampled him to death in the bazaar 



had been wounded by a native, near before a crowd of terrified spectators 



Hambangtotte, pursued the man into and succeeded in making good its re- 



the town, followed him along the street, treat to the jungle. 



