vi THE TIGER 111 



where it can fix its teeth and claws, holding on with great tenacity. 

 A wound on the trunk is most painful, and when an elephant is 

 actually pulled down by a tiger, it is the pain to which the animal 

 yields in falling upon the knees, more than the actual weight and 

 strength of the tiger, that produces the effect. A tiger, when stand- 

 ing upon its hind legs, would be able to reach about 8 feet without 

 the effort of a spring ; it may be readily imagined that a female 

 elephant unprotected by tusks must certainly be injured should a 

 tiger rush determinedly to the attack ; nevertheless the female is 

 generally preferred to the male for steadiness and docility. When 

 a really trustworthy male elephant is obtainable, well grown, of 

 large size, easy action, and in perfect training, it is simply invalu- 

 able, and there is no pleasure equal to such a mount ; the sensation 

 upon such an animal is too delightful, and you long for the oppor- 

 tunity to exhibit the power and prowess of your elephant, as the 

 feeling of being invincible is intensely agreeable. The only 

 sensation that can approach it is the fact of being mounted upon a 

 most perfect hunter, that you can absolutely depend upon when 

 following the hounds in England ; an animal well up to a couple 

 of stones more than your own weight, who never bores upon your 

 hand, but keeps straight, and never makes a mistake ; even that 

 only faintly approaches the pleasure of a good day upon such an 

 elephant as I have described. 



Mahouts will always lie concerning the reputation of the 

 animal in their charge, and I had been assured that the great male 

 belonging to the Ranee of Bijni was the ideal character I coveted ; 

 but I discovered that his temper was so well known that the 

 Rajah positively declined to expose his line of elephants to an 

 attack, which he assured me would take place if the animal 

 became excited ; in which event some valuable elephant would 

 suffer, as the long tusks of the Bijni elephant had not been blunted, 

 or shortened by the saw. This splendid animal was accordingly 

 condemned to the ignominious duty of conveying food to the camp, 

 for the other elephants upon their return from their daily work. 

 The neighbourhood of the Brahmaputra is rich in plantain groves, 

 and for a trifling consideration the natives allow those trees which 

 have already produced their crop to be cut down. A full-length 

 stem will weigh about 80 Ibs., therefore an elephant is quickly 

 loaded, as the animal for the short distance to camp will carry 18 

 cwts. or more. The operation of loading a pad elephant with 

 either boughs or plantain stems is very curious. Two men are 

 necessary ; one upon the ground hands the boughs, etc., to the 

 man upon the animal's back, who lays the thin or extreme end of 



