160 CRUELTY OF NATIVES. 



sutfeiings of one which could not rise were too horrible to witness. The 

 hunters, like all natives of India, had never thought of terminating its 

 sufferings. Many natives would not hurt the meanest insect, as to do no 

 lolling is a portion of the creed of some castes of Hindoos ; but that it 

 might be merciful to put an end to suffering in many cases they cannot, 

 apart from their disinclination to take life, understand. The poor beast 

 had given birth to a stiU-born calf, and had been in this terrible position 

 for two days before I arrived. I immediately ended her sufferings with 

 my rifle ; but the other one, which did not seem very bad, and of the exact 

 nature of whose injuries, whether sprain or dislocation, I was not then 

 certain, was kept tied up in an easy manner. She was a magnificent ani- 

 mal — one of the finest we caught during our trip — and she marched about 

 fifty miles on our return down the Myanee valley. The swelling at the hip 

 abated a good deal, when I was able to see that it was reaUy dislocated. 

 The elephant had marched so pluckily, though dragging the leg, that the 

 jemadar and I had had doubts of this hitherto. I ordered her release 

 (though the jemadar offered £30 for her as a speculation of his own), together 

 with a very old female which it was useless to take out of the jungles. I 

 believe that though the injured elephant will be permanently lame she may 

 live for many years in her native haunts. Her liberty was a poor, but 

 the only, return we could make for the injury to which she had so unfor- 

 tunately been subjected. 



We tried for some days to drive the elephants still remaining at large 

 into the kheddah but were thoroughly beaten. One man was trampled 

 to death by an enraged female, from which I also had two narrow escapes, 

 flooring her in each attack with my rifle ; and as tlie attempts became 

 highly dangerous to the men, I ordered them to relinquish the surround and 

 take a few days' rest to recover from the fatigues of night-watching. Dur- 

 ing the time we were here a most extraordinary adventure happened to 

 me, in having my tent pulled about my ears during the night by a wild 

 elephant. I fear some of my readers may think it almost past belief, 

 and I have felt doubtful about relating it ; however, I will narrate what 

 occurred. 



A large space had been cleared in the forest on the bank of the Myanee 

 for securing our new elephants, and for the convenience of our large camp. 

 With the elephants from Gasban, which, had been marched to our present 

 camp, and our tame ones, we had over a hundred altogether. At the 

 encampment (No. 1 on map) the Myanee flowed from north to south ; 

 our camp was on the west bank. The Myanee was joined at this place by 

 a smaller stream from the north-west ; my own and servants' tents, as well 



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