288 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTEAL INDIA. 



all became excellent shikaris, except one large mukna in whom 

 I found I had been stuck with a regular man-killing brute. 

 He was quite quiet at the fair, having been probably kept 

 drugged with opium ; but on the march down to Central India 

 he broke out and killed a man, and afterwards became quite 

 uncontrollable. He fetched his full price, however, for a 

 native notable ; for he was a very handsome animal, and a 

 wealthy native is rather proud of having an elephant that 

 no one can go near chained up at his gateway for an orna- 

 ment. 



All elephants intended to be used in hunting tigers must 

 be very carefully trained and entered to their game. A good 

 mahout, or driver, is very difficult to obtain. They differ as 

 much in their command over elephants as do riders of horses ; 

 and a plucky driver will generally make a staunch elephant, 

 and vice vend. The elephant should first be accustomed to 

 the firing of guns from his back, and to seeing deer and other 

 harmless animals shot before him in company with a staunch 

 companion. He must not be forced in at a tiger, or at a hog 

 or bear which he detests even more, until he has acquired some 

 confidence, though in some few cases he will stand to any 

 animal from the very first. When they have seen a few tigers 

 neatly disposed of most elephants acquire confidence in their 

 human allies, and become sufficiently steady in the field ; but 

 their ultimate qualities will depend much on natural tempera- 

 ment. The more naturally courageous an elephant is, the 

 better chance there is of his remaining staunch after having 

 been actually mauled by a tiger an accident to be avoided, of 

 course, as long as possible. It will occur sometimes, however, 

 in the best hands ; and then a naturally timid animal, who 

 has only been made staunch by a long course of immunity 

 from injury, will probably be spoilt for life, while a really 



