in THE ELEPHANT 57 



scarcely full growth are valued ; in India all elephants irrespective 

 of their age are valued, and- the older animals are as easily 

 domesticated as the young. 



The keddah establishment at Dacca is the largest in India, and 

 during the last season, under the superintendence of Mr. G. P. 

 Sanderson, 404 elephants were captured in the Garo Hills, 132 

 being taken in one drive. It is difficult to believe that any 

 district can continue to produce upon this wholesale scale, and it 

 is probable that after a few years elephants will become scarce in 

 the locality. Nevertheless there is a vast tract of forest extending 

 into Burmah, and the migratory habits of the elephant at certain 

 seasons may continue the supply, especially if certain fruits or 

 foliage attract them to the locality. 



This migratory instinct is beyond our powers of explanation in 

 the case of either birds, beasts, or fishes. How they communicate, 

 in order to organise the general departure, must remain a mystery. 

 It is well known that in England, previous to the departure of the 

 swallows, they may be seen sitting in great numbers upon the tele- 

 graph wires, as though discussing the projected journey ; in a few 

 days after, there is not a swallow to be seen. 



I once, and only once, had an opportunity of seeing elephants 

 that were either migrating, or had just arrived from a migration. 

 This was between 3 and 4 N. latitude in Africa, between Obbo 

 and Farfijok. We were marching through an uninhabited country 

 for about 30 miles, and in the midst of beautiful park-like scenery 

 we came upon the magnificent sight of vast herds of elephants. 

 These were scattered about the country in parties varying in numbers 

 from ten to a hundred, while single bulls dotted the landscape with 

 their majestic forms in all directions. In some places there were 

 herds of twenty or thirty entirely composed of large tuskers ; in 

 other spots were parties of females with young ones interspersed, 

 of varying growths, and this grand display of elephantine life con- 

 tinued for at least two miles in length as we rode parallel with the 

 groups at about a quarter of a mile distant. It would have been 

 impossible to guess the number, as there was no regularity in their 

 arrangement, neither could I form any idea of the breadth of the 

 area that was occupied. I have often looked back upon that ex- 

 traordinary scene, and it occurred to me forcibly in after years, 

 when I had 3200 elephants' tusks in one station of Central Africa, 

 which must have represented 1600 animals slain for their fatal ivory. 



The day must arrive when ivory will be a production of the 

 past, as it is impossible that the enormous demand can be supplied. 

 I have already explained that the African savage never tames a 



