Treatment of Elephants. 103 



peculiar sounds to denote various meanings. A whist- 

 ling noise produced by the trunk indicates satisfaction ; 

 when they trumpet or utter a hoarse scream, it is a 

 sign of rage ; a noise made by the mouth like " pr-rut,. 

 pr-rut," is a sign of alarm, so is the striking of the 

 trunk on the ground, accompanied by a pitiful cry ; 

 whilst a noise like " urmp, urmp " denotes impatience 

 or dissatisfaction. Elephants are always swaying to 

 and fro ; the ears and tail are on the move brushing 

 off the flies, and the trunk is in incessant use, the legs 

 are constantly rubbing one against the other, but if 

 the animal is suspicious it becomes as rigid as if cut 

 out of rock, with its trunk well raised and ears cocked 

 forward. Thick as is the skin of an elephant, no 

 animal suffers more from flies and even mosquitoes. 

 Thus directly it has been washed, skin made as glossy 

 as glass, anointed and decorated, no sooner is it 

 tethered than it proceeds to cast heaps of dust and 

 dirt over itself and in a few minutes is as dusty as a 

 miller. Elephants snore a good deal when asleep. I 

 have often seen them resting the head on a foot, using 

 it in lieu of a pillow. They are very human-like in 

 many of their ways. They use a piece of wood as a 

 toothpick ; they will plug a wound with clay ; they 

 scratch themselves with the tip of their trunk, and 

 if they can't reach the part irritated they take up a 

 small branch and use it as a fan. 



Saunderson derides the story of an elephant lifting 

 the wheel of a heavy gun with its trunk, and says it 

 is impossible, yet a brother officer of mine was present 

 and saw it done. As a rule they will not face fire, 

 but there are exceptions, for one elephant belonging 

 to the battery in Deebrooghur would assist in putting 



