ElepJiantiana. 193 



side and the hind foot of the other, and all the 

 time mounted on a wooden cylinder not large enough 

 to support all its four feet when placed together. 



Yet, though it can swim so well, and can so easily 

 ascend and descend precipitous slopes, the elephant 

 is utterly powerless in mud of any depth. Should it 

 by chance stray into a quagmire it becomes frantic 

 with terror, utters screams of mingled fear and anger, 

 its eyes start from its head with fright, and its pro- 

 boscis feels in all directions for something firm on 

 which it may stand. 



When an elephant is in this predicament, the 

 mahout slips off over the animal's tail, and runs 

 away as fast as he can. Did he not escape in this 

 way, the elephant would be sure to pluck him from its 

 neck, and place his body under his feet so as to form 

 a support for its weight. 



The only plan by which an elephant can be relieved 

 from this awkward position is to approach as near as 

 is consistent with safety, and to throw logs, planks, 

 or branches of trees within reach of the proboscis. 

 The elephant immediately seizes them, and places 

 them one by one under its feet until it can stand 

 firmly, and by continuing the process, makes a road 

 by which it may regain dry ground. As soon as it 

 has done so, the mahout resumes his place on the 

 animal's neck, and can safely guide it as before. 



Cautious as is the elephant in trusting its vast 

 weight to anything which may seem to be unable to 

 support it, the animal's wonderful power of balance 

 enables it to step for almost incredible distances 

 from one foothold to another. 



First, it surveys the intervening distance, and 

 carefully takes the measure of it. Then it leans for- 

 ward, and stretches its proboscis forwards so as to test 

 the strength of the next foothold. Guided by the 



