304 THE HIGHLANDS OP CENTKAL INDIA. 



man-eater. He was exactly ten feet long, in the prime of 

 life, with the dull yellow coat of the adult male not in the 

 least mangy or toothless like the man-eater of story. He had 

 no moon on his head, nor did his belly nearly touch the 

 ground. I afterwards found that these characteristics are 

 attributed to all man-eaters by the credulous people. 



Before dismissing Sarju. from these pages, I would like to 

 record an anecdote of his sagacity which I think beats every- 

 thing I have heard of the elephant's intellect. He was a 

 consummate thief; and had grown so cunning that he could 

 unfasten any chains or ropes he was tethered with, which he 

 often would do of a dark night if not watched, and proceed 

 to roam about seeking what he might devour. His favourite 

 object on such occasions was sugar-cane ; and if he got into 

 a field of this would trample down and damage the greater 

 part of it. Many a long bill have I paid for such depre- 

 dations. He would never allow himself to be caught again 

 after such an escapade while his keepers pursued him with 

 sticks and threats, but surrendered at once as soon, as they 

 resorted to persuasion, and promised not to beat him. One 

 night the people of the camp were sitting up late over a small 

 fire, and saw Sarju unloose his foot-chain and stalk off through 

 the camp. Presently he appeared sniffing about the place 

 where a grain-merchant had brought out his sacks during the 

 day to supply the wants of the camp. A sack of rice, nearly 

 empty, lay under the head of a sleeping lad; and Sarju 

 paused and seemed to ponder long how he might annex its 

 contents. At last he was seen to gradually withdraw the bag 

 with his trunk, while he replaced it with the sloping edge of 

 his big fore foot in supporting the head of the boy. Having 

 gobbled up the rice with much despatch, he then rolled up the 

 bag, and returning it under the boy's head stalked away ! I 



