Disti^ess. 131 



most touching distress at their detention, but made no 

 attempt to disturb the cords that bound them. 



The variety of disposition in the herd as evidenced 

 by difference of demeanour was very remarkable : some 

 submitted with comparatively little resistance ; whilst 

 others in their fury dashed themselves on the ground with 

 a force sufficient to destroy any weaker animal. They 

 vented their rage upon every tree and plant within reach ; 

 if small enough to be torn down, they levelled them with 

 their trunks, and stripping them of their leaves and 

 branches, tossed them wildly over their heads on all 

 sides. Some in their struggles made no noise, whilst 

 others bellowed and trumpeted furiously, then uttered 

 short convulsive screams, and at last, exhausted and 

 hopeless, gave vent to their anguish in low and piteous 

 moanings. Some, after a few violent efforts of this kind, 

 lay motionless on the ground, with no other indication of 

 suffering than the tears which suffused their eyes and 

 flowed incessantly. Others in all the vigour of their rage 

 exhibited the most surprising contortions ; and to us who 

 had been accustomed to associate with the unwieldy bulk 

 of the elephant the idea that he must of necessity be 

 stiff and inflexible, the attitudes into which they forced 

 themselves were scarcely credible. I saw one lie with 

 the cheek pressed to the earth, and the fore-legs stretched 

 in front, whilst the body was twisted round till the hind 

 legs extended in the opposite direction. 



It was astonishing that their trunks were not wounded 

 by the violence with which they flung them on all sides. 

 One twisted his proboscis into such fantastic shapes, that 



