176 The Wild Elephant. 



pence, and calculating that hardly any individual works 

 more than four days out of seven, the charge for each 

 day so employed would amount to six shillings and six- 

 pence. The keep per day of a powerful dray-horse, 

 working five days in the week, would not exceed half-a- 

 crown, and two such would unquestionably do more 

 work than any elephant under the present system. I 

 do not know whether it be from a comparative calcula- 

 tion of this kind that the strength of the elephant es- 

 tablishments in Ceylon has been gradually diminished 

 of late years, but in the department of the Commis- 

 sioner of Roads, the stud, which formerly numbered 

 upwards of sixty elephants, was reduced, some years 

 ago, to thirty-six, and is at present less than half that 

 number. 



The fallacy of the supposed reluctance of the elephant 

 to breed in captivity has been demonstrated by many 

 recent authorities ; but with the exception of the birth 

 of young elephants at Rome, as mentioned by ^lian, 



[F. religiosd) which is found near every fibre, and then raised in his trunk and 

 temple, and the na gaha [Messtiafer- crushed almost without an effort, by 

 rea], with thick dark leaves and a scar- his ponderous jaws, 

 let flower. The leaves of the jak-tree The grasses are not found in sufifi- 

 and bread-fruit [Artocarpiis integri- cient quantity to be an item of daily 

 folia, and A. ijicisa), the wood apple fodder; the Mauritius or the Guinea 

 {/Egle Marmelos), Palu [Mimusops grass is seized with avidity ; lemon 

 Indica), and a number of others well grass is rejected from its overpowering 

 known to their attendants, are all con- perfume, but rice in the straw, and 

 sumed in turn. The stems of the plain- every description of grain, whether 

 tain, the stalks of the sugar-cane, and growing or dry ; gram [Ciccr arieti- 

 the feathery tops of the bamboos, are niim), Indian corn, and millet, are his 

 irresistible luxuries. Pine-apples, water- natural food. Of such of these as can 

 melons, and fruits of every description, be found, it is the duty of the leaf- 

 are voraciously devoured, and a coco- cutters, when in the jungle and on 

 nut when found is first rolled under march, to provide a daily supply, 

 foot to detach it from tne husk and 



