Elephant Fittings. 105 



versally used, not required. The only use of an 

 attendant was to load your guns ; that you can do for 

 yourself now. Double howdahs are far heavier than 

 single ones, and when a tiger, buffalo, or rhinoceros 

 is at the heels of your animal, how are you to turn 

 round and fire over its back, if you have a lumbering 

 man behind you ? Many a time have I saved my 

 elephant being cut by being able to turn round and 

 fire instantaneously, which I could not have done had 

 I had a man behind me. The howdah should rest on 

 either side of the pad, the cross portion being hollowed 

 out to prevent its pressing on the spine and so 

 causing a sore back. The whole length of the two sides 

 should rest, and the weight be distributed equally on 

 either side of the spine longitudinally, the bars 

 resting on the pad, which should be made to fit each 

 elephant, that is, each elephant must have a pad 

 made expressly for it. As a coat will not fit any man, 

 neither will a pad fit every beast that it is placed 

 upon. It should be stuffed with pith, which can be 

 collected in almost every bheel; under the pad there 

 should be a well -padded guddelah, and another 

 over the pad to prevent the howdah slipping. The 

 howdah is fastened on with ropes having belly, 

 neck, and tail bands of stout leather, well greased 

 and kept soft to prevent chafing. Some, to avoid 

 the extra weight, stand on the pad, but if you 

 do, you feel the motion of the animal far more 

 than you will if you stand on a wooden floor 

 which is clear of the pad. Every howdah has two 

 longitudinal iron sloping bars, which connect the front 

 with the back as a means of strengthening the whole. 

 If to them you sew strips of stout waterproof cloth, 



