166 ELEPHANTS. 



tusk of the lighter pair was 42 inches in length, and the 

 others about 48 inches each ; and some months afterwards, 

 when the embedded portions were brought into Bangalore , 

 we found that our estimate was approximately correct. 

 When they are not cut out on the spot a piquet of three 

 watchers should be detailed to camp in the vicinity until 

 the tusks can be extracted, otherwise they will probably be 

 stolen, even in the remotest jungles. 



Next day, when beating for sambur, the coolies 

 encountered the cow elephant, which was in a shocking 

 temper, and charged them vigorously. The beat had to be 

 stopped, and, although much inclined for another scrim- 

 mage, and a good deal annoyed by the interruption, we 

 decided to leave her unmolested. Poor lady ! she had lost 

 both her lovers. The tuskers' feet having been brought 

 into camp, the tissue and gristle which was very much 

 like caoutchouc were with difficulty scooped out, after 

 many hours' labour ; they were then coated internally with 

 arsenical soap, filled with charcoal, and taken to Canton- 

 ments, where they were transformed into foot-stools and 

 cigar-boxes. The tails mysteriously disappeared, having 

 been removed and secreted by some of our followers, who 

 believe the hairs to be a potent talisman in certain love 

 philtres. One of the skulls was brought to me in Canton- 

 ments several months afterwards, when the flesh, &c., had 

 disappeared, eventually finding its way to Europe with a 

 friend, whose regiment relieved us at Bangalore. We had 

 heard that the baked foot of an elephant was a dish for a 

 Lucullus, and reasoned that the tongue would be at least as 

 toothsome, if not more so. Both tongues were accordingly 

 put into pickle, and taken to Bangalore, where, together 

 with some bears' hams, which we had shot at Sawandroog, 

 about thirty miles distant from Cantonments, they formed 



