THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HOWDAH 123 



A howdah should be made as light as possible consistent 

 with strength. It should not rest on the spine, the part 

 across that should be hollowed out. The weight must be 

 distributed equally on each side of the back longitudinally on 

 bars resting on the pad, which should be well stuffed, and 

 under it there should be a thick guddelah, and another above, 

 to prevent the howdah slipping. It is better to have these 

 guddelahs stuffed with wool than with cotton. 



The bars which form the foundation of the howdah have 

 eyelets through which a rope with a piece of soft leather 

 attached to it is passed under the throat, and a similar one 

 under the tail ; these form a crupper and breast-piece as in a 

 horse, and keep the howdah from shifting either to the back 

 or front. The body of the howdah should be raised at least 

 four inches above these bars, and be quite clear of the pad. 

 I prefer the floor of a howdah to be planked ; the motion of 

 the elephant is not so much felt ; but some prefer standing on 

 the guddie, which is, I think, a great mistake. Round the 

 sides of your howdah tack a strong Charsootie cloth or light 

 canvas, and give it two coats of green paint, which renders it 

 not only less conspicuous but also waterproof. On the two 

 longitudinal iron bars connecting the front with the back of 

 the howdah sew two strips of good waterproof cloth to serve 

 as flaps to throw over the guns if rain falls. They are not in 

 the least in the way, as they hang down outside till wanted. 

 Sew on a few bullets to the lower edge to prevent the wind 

 blowing them off or about. By taking this simple precaution 

 I have kept my weapons perfectly dry in the wettest weather. 

 The front should not be too high, and should be in accordance 

 with the height of the person who is going to use it ; it should 

 be just clear of his elbows when he stands up. The back 

 part should be about a foot lower. Now that breechloaders 

 are universal a double howdah is not requisite ; it was intended 

 for two in the front the sportsman, and in the back an 

 attendant for loading, but at the best it was a bad arrange- 

 ment. When a beast charges, oftener than not the elephant 

 turns tail, and to avoid a collision, it is necessary to turn 

 round sharply and fire down over the elephant's tail, and this 

 cannot be done satisfactorily if there is a man behind. 



