ROUGHING IT IN SOUTHERN INDIA 29 



animals are dear ; to us they were most surely so without 

 exception, but very specially so were the elephants with 

 whom we had so much to do. Without speech themselves, 

 yet comprehending every word spoken to them in the 

 vernacular of their native province : Hindustani if they 

 were from Bengal ; Cingalese if from Ceylon ; Burmese 

 if from Burmah ; and so on, according to the part from 

 which they came. 



As a general rule the mahout will become attached to his 

 charge, and be kind to him as far as his lights lead him. 



On one occasion several elephants had been brought to 

 us for temporary stabling, and we were walking about 

 amongst them as they were tethered here and there in our 

 'compound,' * when upon my offering a lettuce to a very 

 tame old fellow he took it from my hand in his trunk, 

 snuffed at it, and then quietly turned it back towards me. 

 My husband told me they did not care for lettuces, and not 

 to tease him. I tried again, nevertheless, and again Rama 

 took the lettuce, returning it ever so gently, but eyeing me 

 the while. I had had my warning, yet foolishly persisted, 

 and, for the third time, held out the lettuce. Again it was 

 accepted, not snuffed at this time, but flung right back in 

 my face ! Lucky for me it was only a lettuce. Grand old 

 Rama ! He looked so dignified all the time, making me 

 feel very silly ; but I never teased him again. We made 

 friends, then and there, with jaggheri, which is the native 

 form of sugar, very dark and treacly, and made in the shape 

 of three-inch square, hollow blocks. Elephants are greedy 

 for it, or indeed for anything sweet. 



Rama was said to be one hundred and sixty years old. 

 He could make the others mind him, proving conclusively 

 that the human method is not the only means of com- 

 munication between living creatures. 



1 Grounds surrounding a bungalow, in part uncultivated, and used for the 

 pasturage of horses, bullocks, cows, and other purposes. 



