136 SAFARI 



ing as I live more and more with the unspoiled 

 animals. 



I have come to look upon an elephant as the 

 dignified old gentleman of the wilderness. Often 

 he is of great age ; and his size prevents his plunging 

 about the way lighter animals do. Yet he is not 

 sluggish the way other elderly beasts come to be; 

 it is only fair to cite the rhino as an example of an 

 undignified creatiH"e despite his size. 



Certainly the elephant is no fool. He attends to 

 his own business and lets other creatiures severely 

 alone. He leads a quiet family Hfe. And he does 

 not prey on the land or lives of other species. 



That the Indian elephant is easily tamed is no 

 reflection upon the elephant's character in general. 

 He is not weak willed. Rather does he possess a 

 kind of native philosophy deeply planted in his heart. 

 Quicker than the cats and more thoroughly than 

 the cattle does he perceive the futility of resisting 

 captivity imposed by man. So he goes about his 

 tasks or his tricks calmly and efficiently, and probably 

 enjoys life little less than when he was free. 



I do not take any too seriously stories about an 

 elephant's vindictiveness. I think most intelligent 

 lower animals remember a human being who has 

 wronged them. Dogs do. Also there are vicious 

 members of the elephant family just as of most other 

 kinds of animals. A vicious dog or horse is equally 



f 



