Chap. II.] HABITS WHEX WILD. 307 



as readily obeyed as a male. In fact, in the pro- 

 motion of a leader there is no reason to doubt 

 that supremacy is almost unconsciously assumed by 

 those endowed with, vigour and courage rather 

 than fi'om the accidental possession of greater bodily 

 strength ; and the devotion and loyalty which the 

 herd e\dnce to their leader is something very re- 

 markable. Tliis is more readily seen in the case of 

 a tusker than any other, because in a herd he is 

 generally the object of the keenest pursuit by the 

 hunters. On such occasions the elephants do their 

 utmost to protect him from danger : when driven 

 to extremity they place the leader in the centre and 

 crowd so eagerly in front of him that the sportsmen 

 have to shoot a number which they might otherwise 

 have spared. In one instance a tusker, wdiich was badly 

 wounded by Major Eogers, w^as promptly smTounded by 

 his companions, w^ho supported him between theii" shoul- 

 ders, and actually succeeded in covermg his retreat to 

 the forest. 



Those who have hved much m the jungle in Ceylon, 

 and who have had constant opportunities of w^atching the 

 habits of wild elephants, have witnessed instances of the 

 submission of herds to their leaders, that create a 

 singular interest as to the means adopted by the latter to 

 communicate with distinctness, orders which are observed 

 with the most imphcit obedience by their followers. 

 The narrative of an adventm^e in the great central forest 

 toward the north of the island, w^liich has been commu- 

 nicated to me by Major Skixner, who was engaged for 

 some time in survepng and opening roads through the 

 thickly-wooded districts there, will serve better tlian any 

 abstract description to convey an idea of the conduct of a 

 herd on such occasions : — 



" The case you refer to struck me as exhibiting some- 

 thing more than oi'dinaiy brute instinct, and approached 

 nearer to reasoning powers than any other instance I 

 can now remember. I cannot do justice to the scene, 



X 2 



