28 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



directions ; they arc never quiet for one moment throughout the 

 day, but continue to swing their heads to and fro, and prick for- 

 ward their ears, exhibiting a restlessness of spirit that is a suffi- 

 cient warning to any stranger. Such elephants should always 

 be approached with caution, and never directly in front, but at 

 the side. 



An elephant is frequently treacherous, and if the person should 

 stand unheedingly before it, a sudden slap with the trunk might 

 be the consequence. For the same reason, it would be dangerous 

 to approach the heels of such an animal, as a kick from an elephant 

 is rather an extensive movement, and it is extraordinary that so 

 colossal a limb as the hind leg can be projected with such velocity, 

 equalling that of a small pony. 



Discussions have frequently arisen concerning the maximum 

 speed of an elephant ; this is difficult to decide exactly, as there 

 can be no question that the animal in a wild state will exert a 

 greater speed than can be obtained from it when domesticated. 

 The African variety is decidedly faster than the Asiatic ; the legs 

 being longer, the stride is in proportion ; and as the habits of the 

 African lead it to wander over large tracts of open country instead 

 of confining its rambles to secluded forests, this peculiarity would 

 naturally render the animal more active, and tend to accelerate its 

 movements. I consider that the African elephant is capable of a 

 speed of fifteen miles an hour, which it could keep up for two or 

 three hundred yards, after which it would travel at about ten miles 

 an hour, and actually accomplish the distance within that period. 

 The Asiatic elephant might likewise attain a speed of fifteen miles 

 for perhaps a couple of hundred yards, but it would not travel far 

 at a greater pace than eight miles an hour, and it would reduce 

 that pace to six after the first five miles. 



The proof of an elephant's power of great speed for a short 

 distance is seldom seen except in cases where the animal is infuri- 

 ated, and gives chase to some unfortunate victim, who seldom 

 escapes his fate by flight. For a short burst of fifty or one 

 hundred yards an elephant might occasionally attain a pace exceed- 

 ing fifteen miles an hour, as I have frequently, when among rough 

 ground, experienced a difficulty in escaping when on horseback ; 

 and in my young days, when a good runner, I have been almost 

 caught when racing along a level plain as smooth as a lawn with a 

 savage elephant in full pursuit. An active man upon good ground 

 can run for a short distance at the rate of eighteen miles an hour ; 

 this should clear him from the attack of most elephants ; but 

 unfortunately the good ground is scarce, and the elephant is 



