146 HUNTING IN THE JUNGLE. 



his defenceless body ; but twelve active elephants on the 

 aggressive was a different story, and he turned tail and 

 ran for his life. 



All I could think of, left in this predicament, was to 

 fire at the leader and climb a tree. I had no sooner done 

 the former, than, wheeling quickly, the troop made off 

 into the jungle at right angles to where they had come 

 ii: IVhen he saw that the danger was over, Thursday 

 returned in a most penitent state of mind, and tried to 

 make me believe that he had fled out of consideration for 

 me, as, if the elephants had recognized him — their great- 

 est dread — nothing could have stopped them ! On our 

 way into camp, Thursday assured me that all communi- 

 ties of elephants have their burial-place, and if one of 

 their number dies suddenly, they drag him thither that his 

 huge carcass may not infect their haunts. He was full 

 of stories, and interesting ones, that would fill a volume, 

 about this royal beast ; and I am very glad to have the 

 opportunity to say a few words that may do some justice 

 to this much-maligned brute, who should, much more than 

 the lion, be called the king of beasts. 



There is no living creature, even man himself aided by 

 all the devices of civilization, that can force an elephant 

 to do anything contrary to his wish ; nor is there cage, 

 nor prison, nor fetter, that will hold him without his 

 consent. Man can kill him with the weapons of warfare, 

 l)ut can never tame him, like other animals, by starvation 

 and hard treatment, but simply by an exercise of reason. 



