The Elephant 



innumerable are on record of his attacking travellers and 

 others who had not offended him in any way." A tusker 

 "in seclusion," observes Major Leveson ("Sport in Many 

 Lands"), is always "morose, vicious, and desperately cun- 

 ning." Leveson, Andersson, Campbell, Baker, Gumming, 

 and Selous had ample opportunities for convincing them- 

 selves of the reality of rogues. 



Speaking of the species on both continents, we may 

 consider them as but little entitled to much of their repu- 

 tation for harmlessness. Sir Samuel Baker ("The Rifle 

 and Hound in Ceylon ") gives it as his opinion that they 

 are "the most dangerous creatures with which a sports- 

 man can contend ;" and W. T. Hornaday ("Two Years in 

 the Jungle ") takes the same view. 



An elephant never exhibits the blind and senseless 

 ferocity of a black rhinoceros. He is often fully as fierce, 

 and far more destructive, but this disposition does not dis- 

 play itself in the same way. Both of these animals will, 

 however, attack by scent alone. It is not meant that in 

 elephants this conduct is customary ; all that is intended 

 is to substantiate the occurrence of such an act. 



This animal's character is more completely evinced in 

 the expression "My Lord the Elephant" than it could be 

 by any description, however true and striking. Sanderson 

 explains that the title is not given in reverence so much as 

 in fear. The native attendants upon elephants, he observes, 

 have little respect for their intelligence, but a lasting appre- 

 hension of what may at any time happen to themselves. 



It is generally said that while male elephants are free 

 they never become "must," and, therefore, that this 



