48 THE SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF 



which had been at the Mission for several months accompanied 

 the hunters in their expeditions, and their presence served to render 

 the newly captured animals more confiding and less disposed to 

 attempt to escape. 



' The attempts to break in the animals have been persevered in, 

 and the result recently obtained has been very encouraging. 



' Since last February the elephants have carried all the bricks 

 required for the construction of the houses at the station. Every 

 morning five elephants have made fifteen transits between the brick- 

 kiln and the houses being built. Each elephant carried two baskets 

 of bricks weighing thirty kilos, for the stronger, and twenty kilos, 

 for the weaker animals. As only four pack-saddles were available, 

 the fifth elephant was made to draw a small cart. Some of the 

 elephants objected to drawing the cart, but it was proved that those 

 which worked hard thus developed their muscles and were in 

 excellent health. Some large trunks of trees have also been trans- 

 ported by means of the cart. The Mission was much occupied in 

 finding a suitable pack-saddle which would adapt itself exactly to 

 the body of the elephant. This was by no means an easy thing, 

 because the shape of the body of the young African elephant is 

 entirely different from that of our domestic animals. The body is 

 much larger and higher behind than in front. 



' At night time some of the elephants go of their own accord 

 into their stables. About a dozen of them do so of their own free 

 will; but others, in spite of the attraction of their food, prefer to 

 remain outside and to wander round the zareba. 



* The presence of the young captured elephants within the 

 Mission attracted the notice of the older elephants in the surround- 

 ing forest, and, it was feared, might occasion the escape of some 

 of the captives. On March 26 a large elephant was found in a 

 field of manioc, and w :s shot by some of the hunters. The body 

 was measured and weighed. The height was found to be 2.70 

 metres, and the total weight 5,394 kil.' 



