CAPTURING ELEPHANTS. 



121 



of the entertainment was a banquet prepared for the ele- 

 phants ; '^ tables were placed then of sweet smelling wood and 

 ivory very superb/' with goblets " very expensive, and bowls 

 of gold and silver." When all was ready the banqueters came 

 forward, six male and an equal number of female elephants ; 

 the former had on a male dress and the latter a female ; and on 

 ihe signal being given they stretched forward their trunks in a 

 subdued manner, and took their food in great moderation." 

 The last exploit of these animals related bv an old Roman was 

 writing on tablets with their trunks, "neither looking awry or 

 turnmg aside. The hand, howevei» of the teacher was placed 



PERFOKMING ELEPHANT. 



SO as to be a guide in the formation of the letters ; and while it 

 was writing the animal kept its eye fixed down in an accom- 

 plished and scholarlike manner." 



In addition to the training elephants receive immediately after 

 their capture, and which we have described, very little instruc- 

 tion is required to prepare them for those performances which 

 delight circus-goers. The performances in question consist 

 usually of lying down, walking on their legs, standing on the 

 head, walking up an inclined plane formed of a narrow plank, 

 standing on a pedestal, holding a rope for a dancer or acrobat 

 to perform upon, and similar feats. These are nearly all but 

 modifications of his labors when a captive in his native country. 

 Holding a line for a gymnast is not very different to the elephant 

 from doing the same thing to draw a load or raise a weight. 



In compelling: the elephant to perform these acts advantage 

 is taken of the fact that the feet of the elephant are peculiarly 

 sensitive and he dreads any injury to them. While a spear held 



