28 TRAINING THE OOPLIGAS. 



Paternal despotism seems to be the best method of government for the 

 Hindoo. 



I shall never forget what an untutored lot my Morlayites were when I 

 first knew them, and they often laugh and joke at it now themselves. They 

 needed an immense amount of training before they became efficient for 

 work in which considerable discipline was necessary. One of their chief 

 duties was to direct large numbers of men when we were driving elephants, 

 and it was therefore necessary that they themselves should be smart, and 

 learn to carry out orders promptly and exactly. Of such matters, or of 

 tlie importance of time, they had not naturally the remotest idea. They 

 considered to-morrow as good as to-day in all matters, and hours of no con- 

 sequence at all. The apathy and unreliableness of Hindoos are sufficiently 

 trying to the naturally energetic Englishman. It can easily be imagined, 

 then, that for some time my poor ignorant Morlayites truly exercised my 

 soul. However, by degrees Jones, who drilled them, introduced quite mili- 

 tary precision amongst them. When once their natural apathy was shaken 

 we found them very teachable. They were made to stand in a line for mus- 

 ter, instead of the mcb they naturally affected ; to make their salaams morning 

 and evening on coming from and returning to the village; and to run on all 

 occasions when sent on any short errand. The most difficult thing was to 

 get them to carry a verbal message correctly, but by constantly calling 

 them back and making them repeat what they were bid to say this was at 

 last managed fairly. They soon began to pride themselves on belonging to 

 the kheddah service, and it is now amusing to hear them abusing and order- 

 ing their fellow- villagers at work or in sport ; they regard their untrained 

 brethren as a very degenerate lot. 



Five of the best men were appointed as elephant-trackers, their duty 

 being to go to the jungles within a certain circuit of Morlay every morning 

 to examine tracks of elephants or tigers, to find out their whereabouts, and 

 generally to keep me informed of all jungle occurrences. In elephant or 

 other hunting these scouts are my right-hand men. They have the most 

 dangerous duties to perform, and I shall have occasion often to mention 

 them further on. More plucky and reliable men I never had, and their 

 knowledge of the habits of all animals is only equalled by their skill in 

 following them, or anticipating what their line of conduct or of country 

 will be. After our first capture of elephants I had a small silver elephant 

 stamped for each to wear on a green cap, and they are very proud of 

 this badge of office. Their names are : Dodda Sidda, Koon Sidda, Mada, 

 Murga, Mastee. 



A.nd liere let me say a few words upon trackers. The skill of certain 



