Processional Duties 165 



also enjoy a large area in which they may satisfy 

 their hunger without exhausting the existing 

 head of game. At last the day would arrive 

 when the shoot was to commence. Maula Bux 

 on such occasions was, indeed, but one of some 

 two hundred elephants, but, bearing as he did, 

 the principal guest, he was the centre of attrac- 

 tion. His work was easy. When the tiger or 

 other animal had been located, when it had 

 been surrounded so that there was little chance 

 of flight, it was then his duty to stride into the 

 arena, to find the quarry, to stand as firm as a 

 tower when the shot was fired, and to remain so, 

 in spite of attack until the affair was over. There 

 was nothing to disturb his equanimity ; his rider 

 was probably trained to the use of gun and rifle 

 from infancy and never made a mistake ; and, 

 even if this were not the case, there were ready 

 rifles in his vicinity to complete the work 

 which on occasion may have been unskilfully 

 commenced. 



To the elephant such trips were joyful 

 occurrences, for he was once more in the wilds 

 with all their fascination of running water and 



