CURING A BOLTER. 89 



Elephants can always be guided, except when frightened, by the slightest 

 tap with a small stick on either side of the head, the pressure of the knee, 

 or even by a word ; but if alarmed, they have to be controlled or urged for- 

 ward by the driving-goad. An elephant is as much afraid of this implement 

 as a horse is of the curb, and can be restrained by it as well. When under 

 the influence of fear, of course the elephant may run away, as a horse does, 

 regardless of punishment. It is a terrible thing to be bolted with in 

 jungle by an elephant ; the rider is fortunate if he escapes with whole bones. 

 I have felt on the one or two occasions on which it has happened to me as 

 a man might if bestriding a runaway locomotive, and hooking the funnel 

 with the crook of his walking-stick to hold it in ! 



It is very difficult to cure a confirmed bolter, as the habit has its origin 

 in fear, and the animal is always Hable to be startled by unexpected sounds 

 or sights, chiefly the former. It is a rare trick, however, and I have only 

 known two elephants subject to it. One was a fine baggage animal, but 

 almost useless for jungle-work from this trick. I, however, cured her in 

 the following way : I had a stout hoop of iron made, with sharp spikes on 

 the inside to encircle one of her hind-legs. This was kept in its place 

 round the leg by being suspended from the pad by a rope, and it fitted the 

 leg loosely, so as not to inconvenience the elephant except when required to 

 do so. To the ring w£s &,i.tached a chain fifteen feet long, at the other end 

 of which was a pickaxe's head. This grappling apparatus was slung to the 

 pad by a small cord in a slip-knot, handy to the mahout. If the elephant 

 began to run, one pull freed it, and before the anchor had been dragged 

 many yards it caught in roots or bushes, and brought the elephant up with 

 such a twinge that she soon began to think twice before making ofi". 



Howdahs are not pleasant things to ride in, nor are they necessary except 

 for State purposes and tiger-shooting. For ordinary riding a soft pad is much 

 more pleasant ; upon it there is none of the swaying motion felt in a lofty 

 howdah. A chdrjdma is frequently used ; this is merely a broad board 

 with cushions upon it, and foot-boards attached on each side. It is made 

 for four persons, two on each side, seated back to back, and has a rail at 

 •each end. 



Four miles an hour is a good pace for an elephant, but long-legged ones 

 will swing along at five or upwards for a moderate distance, say ten miles. 

 I have known thirty-nine miles done at a stretch at a moderate pace. Single 

 wild elephants that have been wounded or much frightened will often travel 

 as far as this in a few hours without a halt. 



The elephant's use in tiger-shooting is well known, and speaks volumes 

 for the tractability of an animal naturally so timid and disinclined for such 



