138 The Life of an Elephant 



too, in a country where wild elephants abound 

 the passage of an elephant grazing as he goes 

 creates no alarm : the scent of human beings 

 seated high above the ground is carried upward 

 and forward by the breezes, so that good oppor- 

 tunity is given to study the forest tribes while 

 at their ease. To do this to perfection the 

 early morning hours or those before nightfall, 

 sometimes even the bright moonlit nights of 

 India, are most suitable, and for success in a 

 pursuit so interesting to the naturalist as well 

 as to the sportsmen, the elephant is a most 

 useful coadjutor. 



Long before the sun rose one morning, when 

 the stars were twinkling through the frosty dew 

 and the sky seemed of inky blackness Maula 

 Bux strode, with his companions, away from 

 the little encampment where shrouded forms 

 still lay around the camp fires. A dog had 

 barked in protest at being left 

 behind and his appeal had been 

 heard; he was now 

 sitting, shivering 

 with happiness, 



