iv THE ELEPHANT 79 



When we consider the peculiar power that an elephant possesses 

 for swimming long distances, and for supporting long inarches 

 under an enormous weight, we are tempted to condemn the apathy 

 even of European settlers in Africa, who have hitherto ignored the 

 capabilities of this useful creature. The chief difficulty of African 

 commerce is the lack of transport. The elephant is admirably 

 adapted by his natural habits for travelling through a wild country 

 devoid of roads. He can wade through unbridged streams, or swim 

 the deepest rivers (without a load), and he is equally at home either 

 on land or water. His carrying power for continued service would 

 be from 12 to 14 cwts. ; thus a single elephant would convey about 

 1300 Ibs. of ivory in addition to the weight of the pad. The value 

 of one load would be about 500. At the present moment such 

 an amount of ivory would employ twenty-six carriers ; but as these 

 are generally slaves who can be sold at the termination of the 

 journey, they might be more profitable than the legitimate transport 

 by an elephant. 



Although the male elephant will carry a far greater load than 

 the female, through its superior size and strength, it would be 

 dangerous to manage upon a long journey should it take place dur- 

 ing the period of " must." I have heard the suggestion that an 

 elephant should be castrated, as the operation would affect the 

 temper of the animal and relieve it from the irritation of the 

 " must " period ; but such an operation would be impossible, as the 

 elephant is peculiarly formed, and, unlike other animals, it has 

 neither scrotum nor testicles externally. These are situated within 

 the body, and could not be reached by surgery. 



It is well known that the entire males of many domestic animals 

 are naturally savage. The horse, bull, boar, and the park-fed stag 

 are all uncertain in their tempers and may be pronounced unsafe ; 

 but the male elephant, although dangerous to a stranger and 

 treacherous to his attendants, combines an extraordinary degree of 

 cowardice with his natural ferocity. A few months ago I witnessed 

 a curious example of this combination in the elephant's character. 

 A magnificent specimen had been lent to me by the Commissariat 

 Department at Jubbulpur; this was a high caste bull elephant 

 named Bisgaum that was well known as bad-tempered, but was 

 supposed to be courageous. He had somewhat tarnished his 

 reputation during the last season by turning tail upon a tiger that 

 rushed out of dense bush and killed a coolie within a few yards of 

 his trunk ; but this momentary panic was excused, and the blame 

 was thrown upon the mahout. The man was dismissed, and a 

 first-rate Punjaubi driver was appointed in his stead. This man 



