24 WILD I5EASTS AND THEIIl WAYS CHAP. 



the second instance of bad behaviour. So utterly disgusted was 

 the elephant with this tiny foreign substance that it endeavoured 

 to cleanse its mouth from every grain of rice, as though polluted 

 by the contact, and for several minutes it continued to insert its 

 trunk and rake out each atom from its tongue and throat. 



The adaptation of the trunk to many purposes is very interesting. 

 I had an elephant who would eat every particle of rice in a round 

 bamboo basket by sucking it up the trunk and then blowing it 

 into its mouth. The basket was close-grained and smooth inside, 

 but although brimful at the commencement of operations, it was 

 emptied by the elephant as though it had been cleansed with a dry 

 sponge. 



A distinct rule for feeding elephants cannot be laid dow r n with- 

 out exceptions rendered necessary by peculiarities of localities and 

 the amount of hard work required from the animal. If the elephant 

 is simply turned out to grass for a season, it will thrive upon such 

 natural herbage as bamboos, the foliage of the banyan, peepul, and 

 other varieties of the Ficus family ; but if it is expected to travel 

 and perform good work, it is usual in the Commissariat department 

 to allow each elephant seven and a half seers of flour, equal to 15 

 Ibs. avoirdupois. In addition to this, 600 Ibs. of green fodder are 

 given, and about 1 Ib. of ghee (buffalo butter), with salt and jaggery 

 (native sugar). During a jungle expedition I have always doubled 

 the allowance of flour to 30 Ibs. daily for each animal. This is 

 made into large flat cakes like Scotch " scones," weighing 2 Ibs. 

 each. The elephants are fed at about an hour before sunset, and 

 then taken to drink water before actual night. Cleanliness is in- 

 dispensable to the good health and condition of the elephant. It 

 should bathe daily, and the entire body should be well scoured with 

 a piece of brick or a soft quality of sandstone. This operation is 

 much enjoyed, and the huge animal, obeying the command, lies 

 down upon its side and accommodates its carcase to the scrubbing 

 process by adapting its position to the requirements of the operator. 

 It will frequently bury its head completely beneath the water, and 

 merely protrude the extremity of its trunk to breathe above the 

 surface. The coolie is most particular in scrubbing every portion 

 of the animal, after which it will usually stand within the tank or 

 river and shower volumes of water from its trunk over its back 

 and Hanks. When well washed, it apj*>ars a thoroughly clean 

 black ma*s, but in a few minutes it proceeds to destroy its personal 

 beauty by throwing clouds of dust upon its back, which, adhering 

 to the moisture occasioned by its recent bath, converts the late 

 clean animal into a brown mound of earth. 



