COMPARISON WITH OTHER ANIMALS 283 



lowered his trunk into the water and pulled out a pan- 

 nikin, of the same pattern used by the men, and raising 

 his trunk handed it to the mahout. Then he went on 

 again. An elephant is better for draught transport, 

 and can draw about 8.000 lb. ? or four times as much as 

 he can carry, and he is useful for siege trains and heavy 

 ordnance ; but he will not stand fire at all. His feet are 

 very tender, and easily knocked up. The conclusion I 

 came to before reaching Candahar was that they were 

 not the animals for the country. They are not fitted 

 for this work ; for in crossing the deep heavy sand of 

 the desert between Jacobabad and Dadur they floun- 

 dered along, sunk deep into it, and were frequently 

 done to a turn if it happened to be exceptionally heavy ; 

 while in the Bolan Pass the rough stony shingle com- 

 pletely knocked up their feet, which seem to be tender 

 at all times. 



The opinions that prevail about this beast are very Bullocks 

 contradictory. Some say he is an excellent pack 

 animal with great patience and endurance. Others 

 condemn him in toto as least suited, because he is a 

 slow mover, loses condition when underfed (but what 

 beast, after all, does not ?), is easily knocked up, is timid, 

 and given to falling down with his load. He carries 

 only 160 to 200 lb., very little in proportion to his size 

 and strength, and at his best moves but slowly. He is 

 better in draught. Is not long lived. My own personal 

 experience of an Indian bullock inclines me to agree on 

 most points with the latter statement. Like ponies 

 and mules he must be regularly shod. He is specially 

 unfitted for stony country, and soon gets footsore and 

 bruised. I do not know so much about his patience 



