ROUGHING IT IN SOUTHERN INDIA 37 



shell, lost his temper, or seemed to do so, for he trumpeted, 

 and put his foot upon it, crushing it flat ; then he alter- 

 nately lifted and dropped that sledge-hammer foot with 

 a threatening air, as much as to say he had a mind to serve 

 us the same for tricking him with an empty shell ! Too 

 late, Mr. W. perceived the effect of his mistake, and looked 

 thoroughly miserable. But how to pacify the elephant was 

 beyond us ; he had eaten all that we had at hand to give 

 him, and the servants dared not stir a foot to get more. 

 We were completely at a loss ; but help was not far off, for 

 at this critical moment who should appear but the Doray 

 himself — never more welcome ! Taking in the situation 

 at a glance, he called out something in Hindustani to the 

 elephant, just as one would speak to a reasonable being, 

 and with the same result : the uplifted foot was dropped, 

 and the whole demeanour of the animal changed. Exactly 

 like a defiant child who knows his master when told to 

 behave, he allowed himself to be ordered off to his own 

 part of the camp, where his mahout's wife would take charge 

 of him — not a whit afraid of him was she ! Before he went, 

 however, F. recommended Mr. W.'s removing the bad 

 impression he had made by an atoning gift. With this 

 object a whole cocoanut was brought and broken in two, 

 then each half was filled with white sugar and handed by 

 Mr. W. to the elephant, who graciously accepted the peace- 

 offering thus proffered, crunching them up slowly and with 

 evident enjoyment. After this there need be no fear of his 

 bearing malice. The memories of elephants are proverbial, 

 and an affront is forgiven only when the amende honorable 

 has been made ; otherwise things are apt to turn out 

 awkwardly for the offender. 



