88 RIDING-ELEPHANTS. 



hundred yards distant, several times in a morning. By the Bengal Com- 

 missariat code elephants are expected to carry 1640 lb., exclusive of 

 attendants and chains, for which 300 lb. extra may be added ; but this 

 is too great a weight for continued marching. The weight of one of his 

 Excellency the Viceroy's silver State howdahs and trappings is a little over 

 half a ton, as below : — 



Cwts. qrs. lb. 

 Howdah, . . . . . 6 1 22 



Goldcloth, . . . . 1 14 



Punkahs, &c., . . , . 2 25 



Ropea and gear, . . , . 1 5 ; 15 



10 2 20 



Elephants are kept by natives of rank in India solely for the purposes 

 of display, and in this sphere the animal is more at home than in any other. 

 The pompous pace of a procession suits his naturally sedate disposition, and 

 the attentions lavished upon him please his vanity. Only male elephants 

 are valued for this purpose, and tuskers are preferred to mucknas. Every 

 inch of height adds immensely to an elephant's value after nine feet at the 

 shoulder has been passed. 1 have already said in the last chapter that ten 

 feet at the shoulder is probably the extreme height of the Asiatic elephant. 

 One or more elephants are attached to most temples of note in India, and 

 take part in the rehgious processions connected with them. 



Government elephants are often used for riding by the European officers 

 who have charge of the departments in which they are employed, and they are 

 of much use in country where horses cannot be taken. Though Ian elephant 

 is but a poor means of progression on a highroad, in jungly or hilly country 

 he is most useful, as guides and gun-bearers are always in attendance in 

 such places, and the elephant can move as quickly as the party would be 

 able to proceed without him. A light elephant, trained for sowdri, or riding, 

 if active and free, is a very pleasant mount. Half-grown ones are the best. 

 As a rule, long-legged, lanky animals of the Meerga caste are the most 

 active walkers. Calves are always quick movers. I have used them as 

 small as thirteen hands at the shouldti', with a soft pad and stirrups, bestrid- 

 ing them as a pony. They are wondej.fal little creatures for getting up or 

 down any difficult place ; they give no trouble ; and will keep up with a 

 man running at any pace before them. 



Elephants very rarely stumble ; should they even do so they never fall 

 from that cause, as they can go down on one or both knees — an easy 

 position for an elephant. I have sometimes, but rarely, known them fall 

 flat on their sides in slippery soil during wet weather. 



