n6 WILD SPORTS OF BURMA AND ASSAM 



After reaching camp he may have to go miles to get the 

 charah, which should have been cut and collected by his 

 assistant ; he has to stack this carefully on the elephant's 

 back and bring it home, to bathe and well scrub the animal, 

 to anoint his head with oil, and then to give him his grain 

 which, if properly done, takes a considerable time, as the rice 

 should be tied up in small bundles of grass or plantain pulp 

 and then put into the beast's mouth. If allowed to feed 

 himself, an elephant blows the rice through his trunk down 

 his throat, without masticating it, and he derives no 

 benefit from it. He must then be securely tethered for the 

 night, and his charah placed within his reach. It is only after 

 this that the mahout is at liberty to cook and prepare his own 

 food. All these duties combined constitute a hard day's 

 work, and this continues perhaps incessantly for a month or 

 more whilst in camp. Is it a wonder, then, that a mahout 

 sometimes shirks some portion of his daily task ? In the 

 management of his elephant a mahout should not be interfered 

 with too much. If you have a stud, engage a head man or 

 jemadar, one who held some responsible position in the 

 Government Keddah for choice. If you are known and liked 

 he will readily come to you if you give him a rupee or two more 

 a month than he has been receiving. Leave the physicking and 

 interior management to him. Do not keep a mahout you 

 cannot trust, or who shows the slightest signs of funk ; he 

 will only ruin your animal. 



I think more can be done by judicious kindness and general 

 supervision than by bullying or nagging ; but, when neces- 

 sary, don't hesitate to make a severe example of a man who 

 wilfully disobeys your orders, or takes advantage of your 

 kindness to neglect his duties. Treat natives as you would 

 children, with a mixture of kindness and firmness, and be 

 liberal in sharing all Government rewards amongst them, 

 and they will do anything for you ; but avoid extremes one 

 is as bad as the other. 



Many of the mahouts enter into the spirit of the chase, and 

 like a successful sportsman for a master, because the more 

 wild beasts he slays the more they expect to get. I know my 

 men's pay was frequently doubled whilst out, and this adds 



