CHAPTER IV 



ELEPHANTS 



My first tusker My second, and the peculiar circumstances connected 

 with his death A good tusker. 



ELEPHANTS are perhaps the most docile, timid, intelligent 

 of animals, and yet when thoroughly roused and in full charge 

 with curled-up trunk they present a most furious and fear- 

 inspiring spectacle. There are two distinct varieties of the 

 Asiatic elephant, although of the same species, to be found 

 in Burma. I quite agree with all Colonel Pollok says on 

 the subject with regard to the marked differences between 

 tuskers and "hines," or tuskless elephants. The first are 

 known in Hindustanee as " goondas," the tuskers ; the second 

 as " mucknas," or in Burmese " hine." I have no intention of 

 going fully into particulars as to their habits, etc., as Colonel 

 Pollok, whose experience of them is much more varied and 

 greater than mine, has already, in the beginning of this book, 

 dealt with the subject at some considerable length. I should 

 like, however, before relating my experience with them, which 

 covers the death of some twenty-two animals, to give the 

 sportsman some idea as to the method of approaching and 

 shooting them, their haunts, peculiarities, and any other 

 observations which, to one who has never seen an elephant 

 in his wild state, may be of some service. The elephant is, 

 as a rule, very easily stalked, provided one has the wind in 

 his favour. I have often been standing within a yard or two 

 of the hind-quarters of one of these animals waiting patiently 

 for the huge beast to turn round and expose a vital part. 

 Their powers of scent, as is well known, are very keen, and 



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