62 



The Life of an Elephant 



the adults, who seemed to enjoy making the 

 forest re-echo with their trumpeting. Then 

 could be heard also the shrill voices of the young 

 calves and the contented purring of the mothers, 



culminating in blows on earth or water with the 



o 



trunk. They stood knee-deep, throwing water 

 over their bodies, or, if there was depth enough, 

 swimming and diving in the stream or lake ; then 

 when hunger called they either came ashore 

 wet and shiny, or struck out for the opposite 

 bank, the mothers encouraging the young calves 

 or aiding them with their trunks. The secrets 



