APPENDIX. 457 



accessible to tame elephants, tlicy need not be referred to, A long 

 species of grass (^Typha elephanti/ia), which grows in many tanks and 

 rivers during the rainy season, forms excellent fodder for elephants, 

 who are very fond of it ; and when they have been much pulled 

 down by a season's hard work, they should, if possible, be sent to pick 

 up again where this fodder is plentiful. In the absence of the above 

 descriptions of fodder, the stalks of millet, called " Kurbee," or even 

 dry grass, may be given, but it will not satisfy them long without a 

 mixture of green food. Sugar-cane is a great treat, and in moderate 

 quantities is very good for them, particularly if in poor condition. 



Elephants should be picketed on dry ground, standing in damp 

 being a great cause of diseased feet. They do not require any pro- 

 tection from the weather but the shade of a tree, and a Jhool or 

 Numda (cloth of string or felt) thrown over them in cold nights. 

 They should be bathed as often as possible in tanks and rivers ; and 

 a small quantity of clarified butter should afterwards be rubbed over 

 their foreheads, ears, chests, and such parts as are liable to crack, or 

 suffer from the rubbing of the accoutrements or from the sun. They 

 should be allowed to drink as much water as they like. They are 

 often very nice about it, and reject it when muddy or stagnant. The 

 pad should be of full size and well-stuffed with grass. The felt cloth 

 that goes under the pad (Gadela) should always be in proper repair, 

 or a sore back is the certain consequence. Both these articles require 

 to be renewed about once a year, if a whole season's work has been 

 done. The smaller felted cloth on which the driver sits should be 

 made large enough to project a little in front of the elephant's fore- 

 head, and protect him from a vertical sun. It is not the nature of 

 the animal to remain out in the open in the heat of the day ; and I 

 am siire that he suffers from it if made to do so unprotected. If not 

 allowed a tree to stand under in the heat of the day, an elephant 

 always heaps all the leafy branches he can get on his head and back. 



After much marching on stony ground, the feet are apt to get 

 tender from undue weariog away of the horny soles. This is to be 

 remedied by the process called " Ch^bing," which consists in the 

 application to the feet of a boiling hot mixture of a good many 

 ingredients, generally resembling coal tar. Its principal component 

 is the gum resin of the Sal tree ; but every mahout professes to have 

 a mixture of his OAvn, which he keeps a profound secret, and w^hich it 

 is as well to let him use, so long as the desired result ensues, and it 

 does not cost more than about five shillings. There is no doubt 

 that the process is beneficial, the m.ost foot-sore elephant getting 

 round under it in about a week. It requires to be done about twice 

 a year, if the animal is regularly worked on hard ground. 



In dropsical Zerhdd the food must be reduced to a minimum, 

 about 4 lbs. of wheat or 6 lbs. of rice ; and if the latter be the diet it 

 should be given boiled, No green fodder should be allowed, only 

 ■dry grass or " Kurbee," A purgative should also be given ; and the 



