i66 



The Life of an Elephant 



growing vegetation, living under the open sky 

 with all the sounds of an exuberant nature 

 around him. For Kareem, the mahout, the 

 change was also welcome, for besides observing 

 and criticising the woodcraft of others, he was 

 in a responsible position in driving princes to 

 their pastime, while he returned rich in presents 

 to resume once more a monotonous life. 



On the occasion of State processions there 

 was little pleasure or profit to be won. In fact, 



the mahout secretly re- 

 sented the order to 

 deck his charge in 

 heavy embroidered 

 cloths which almost 

 swept the ground on 

 either side ; to secure 

 in its place the heavy 

 gilded howdah, to seat 

 himself on cloth-of-gold so that little was 

 visible of his elephant save a forehead 

 fantastically painted in brilliant colours, and a 

 pair of golden tusks. Still more, he objected 

 to be accompanied on either side by spearmen, 



