THE INDIAN ELEPHANT 



being broken off short and much diseased. The 

 sound one measured 8 feet in length, of which 

 2 feet 3 inches was embedded in the socket, 

 while the portion showing outside taped 5 feet 

 9 inches ; its greatest circumference was nearly 

 17 inches, and its weight 90 Ibs. The other 

 (broken) tusk showed but 15 inches outside the 

 socket, and 2 feet i inch of it in length were 

 embedded, yet it weighed 49 Ibs. even this 

 latter being a great weight for a single tusk of 

 an Indian elephant. Rowland Ward quotes 102 

 and 97^ Ibs. respectively as the weights of the 

 tusks of King Thebaw's sacred white elephant. 



I have never personally bagged an elephant with 

 tusks exceeding 63 Ibs. the pair, and this was the 

 first which I ever shot ; but two very large tuskers 

 were killed in Mysore by friends out in camp with 

 me. One of these was bagged by Captain (now 

 Colonel) W. (late of the 43rd Regiment), and I 

 append the measurements and weights of the tusks. 



Length. Greatest girth. Weight. 

 Inches. Inches. Ibs. 



Right tusk . . 69! ... i6| ... 63 



Left . .67 ... i6f ... 60 



Weight of the pair, 123 Ibs. 



The other was shot while we were out together, 

 and with my rifle, by Captain (now Colonel) B. of 

 the Gunners, and was the first elephant at which 

 that good sportsman had ever fired. His tusks 

 measured and weighed as follows : 



Length. Greatest girth. Weight of the pair. 



Inches. Inches. Ibs. 



Right tusk .86 ... i6f ) 



Left . 88 ... 17 (over) j 



223 



