292 HAUNTS AND HOBBIES 



divided into twelve companies, each company consist- 

 ing of eight or ten elephants ; they were preceded 

 by flags and banners, 'and clothed in gold, silk, and 

 silver.' " 



The " first elephant," I presume the one that headed 

 the procession, is described by Sir Thomas as "a beast 

 of wonderful size and beauty." His head was covered 

 with " plates " (of gold, I imagine), " all set with rubies 

 and emeralds." 



The procession, when the Emperor commenced his 

 journey to Mando, must have been even still more 

 imposing. A guard of elephants, three hundred in 

 number, each carrying a small cannon, lined the road on 

 either side ; and six hundred state elephants went 

 before the Emperor and behind, and all caparisoned in 

 velvet or cloth of gold. 



The elephant of " wonderful size and beauty," which 

 Sir Thomas mentions above, was probably the Emperor's 

 favourite elephant, " Indraguj " (the elephant of Indra, 

 in Hindoo mythology the god of the skiesj. The 

 Emperor in his memoirs gives an elaborate description 

 of this elephant. It had originally belonged to the 

 Emperor's younger brother. Prince Daniel. After the 

 death of that prince it came into the Emperor's pos- 

 session. It was considered to be the largest and in 

 appearance the most magnificent elephant ever seen 

 in India. 



It was so tall, the Emperor states, that a ladder of 

 fourteen steps was required to mount it, so fleet that 

 not even the fastest horse could keep pace with it, so 

 strong and brave that it would not hesitate to attack a 



