Chap. III.] 



ELEPHANT SHOOTIXG. 



327 



exploits of liis pursuers, most of wliom, liaviiig had no 

 further opportunity of observation than is derived fi'om a 

 casual encounter with the outraged animal, have ap- 

 parently tried to exalt their own prowess by misrepresent- 

 ing the ordinary character of the elephant, describing him 

 as " savage, wary, and revengeful." ' 



These epithets may undoubtedly apply to the out- 

 casts from the herd, the " Eogues " or hora allia, but so 

 small is the proportion of these that there is not prob- 

 ably one rogue to be found for every five hundred 

 of those in herds; and it is a manifest error, arisino- 

 from imperfect information, to extend this censure to 

 them generally, or to suppose the elephant to be an 

 animal " thirsting for blood, lying in wait in the jun^-le 

 to rush on the unwary passer-by, and knomn(»- no 

 greater pleasure than the act of crushing his victim to 

 a shapeless mass beneath his feet." ^ The cruelties prac- 

 tised by the hunters have no doubt taught these saga- 

 cious creatures to be cautious and alert, but then- 

 precautions are simply defensive ; and beyond the alarm 

 and apprehension wliich they evince on the approach 

 of man, they exhibit no indication of hostility or a tliirst 

 for blood. 



An ordinary traveller seldom comes upon elephants 

 unless after sunset or towards daybreak, as they go or 

 retm^n from their nightly \'isits to the tanks : but 

 when by accident a herd is disturbed by day, they 

 e\ince, if unattacked, no disposition to become assail- 

 ants; and if the attitude of defence which they in- 

 stinctively assume prove sufficient to check the approach 

 of the intruder, no fmtlier demonstration is to be ap- 

 prehended. 



^ The Rifle and the Ilonnd in Cey- 

 lon ; by S. W. Bakek, Esq., p. 8, 9. 

 "Next to a rogue/' says Mr. Baker, 

 " in ferocity, and even more perse- 

 vering in the pursuit of her victim, 

 is a female elephant." But he ap- 



pends the significant qualification, 

 " when her young one has been killed r 

 —Ibid., p. 13. 



^ The Rife and the Hound in Cey- 

 lon ; by S. W. Bakee, Esq. 



T 4 



