in THE ELEPHANT 47 



but loud roars, the elephant ought to remain absolutely still to 

 receive the onset, and to permit a steady aim from the person in 

 the howdah. This is a very rare qualification, but most necessary 

 in a good shikar elephant. Some tuskers will attack the tiger, 

 which is nearly as bad a fault as running in the opposite direction ; 

 but the generality, even if tolerably steady, will swing suddenly 

 upon one side, and thus interrupt the steadiness of the aim. 



The elephant should never exercise its own will, but ought to 

 wait in all cases for the instructions of the mahout, and then obey 

 immediately. 



Such an animal, combining the proportions and the qualities I 

 have described, might be worth in India about 1500 to any Indian 

 Rajah, but there may be some great native sportsmen who would 

 give double that amount for such an example of perfection, which 

 would combine the beauty required for a state elephant, with the 

 high character of a shikar animal. 



Native princes and rajahs take a great pride in the trappings 

 of their state elephants, which is exhibited whenever any pageant 

 demands an extraordinary display. I have seen cloths of silk so 

 closely embroidered with heavy gold as to be of enormous value, 

 and so great a weight that two men could barely lift them. _ Such 

 cloths may have been handed down from several generations, as 

 they are seldom used excepting in the state ceremonies which occur 

 at distant intervals. A high caste male elephant in its gold 

 trappings, with head-piece and forehead lap equally embroidered, 

 and large silver bells suspended from its tusks, is a magnificent 

 object during the display attending a durbar. At such an occa- 

 sion there may be a hundred elephants all in their finery, each 

 differing from the other both in size and in the colours of their 

 surroundings. 



The outfit for an elephant depends upon the work required. 

 The first consideration is the protection of the back. Although the 

 skin appears as though it could resist all friction, it is astonishing 

 how quickly a sore becomes established, and how difficult this is to 

 heal. The mahouts are exceedingly careless, and require much 

 supervision ; the only method to ensure attention is to hold them 

 responsible, and to deduct so many rupees from their pay should 

 the backs of their animals be unsound. 



With proper care an elephant ought never to suffer, as the pad 

 should be made to fit its figure specially. The usual method is to 

 cover the back from the shoulders to the hips with a large quilted 

 pad stuffed with cotton, about 2 inches thick. In my opinion, 

 wool is preferable to cotton, and, instead of this coverlet being 



