A DRIVE AT MIRZAPUR 113 



from his back, the howdah in which one sits, 

 and the men who may be riding him, and then 

 throws them under his feet that he may get a 

 foothold to work upon. 



In Rudyard Kipling's books there are some 

 charming stories of elephants, which on account 

 of their fine observation are of the deepest 

 interest to every animal lover. 



Every Indian prince possesses a large number 

 of elephants. On gala occasions the animals 

 are wonderfully painted and caparisoned. 

 Their tusks are gilded; their heads and backs 

 are adorned with every sort of decoration. 



Riding on an elephant is rather poor fun 

 for a European. But you begin to understand 

 it when you are in the country, for the elephant 

 is an essential part of India as the changing 

 of the guard is in Berlin; beer in Munich; 

 coffee in Saxony, and ice-water and chewing- 

 gum in America. 



