XXV 



found that breeding in captivity is uncertain, although semi- 

 wild animals breed freely in Siam and Burma, and the Cartha- 

 ginians used to breed elephants. Probably the deficiency of sexual 

 instinct among domesticated elephants is due to underfeeding, 

 for Sanderson tells us that in elephant management the chief 

 point is that they do not get enough to eat, partial starvation 

 being frequent. The march of captured animals from the jungle 

 commences in Februaiy, they reach Dacca in May, are then put 

 into training, and by November are quite steady and drafted 

 into the military service (Sanderson). 



The process by which the Ceylonese elephants are shipped for 

 conveyance t« India is graphically described by Tennent. — Four 

 or five are conveyed in the same dhoney or native boat and ferried 

 across the narrow strait (afterwards vessels with hinged sides were 

 used). The boat is three parts filled with palmyra leaves and 

 the elephant backed into it by use of the goad — he fights ener- 

 getically against his fore legs leaving terra firma. Hannibal 

 conveyed his elephants across large rivers by means of island- 

 like rafts specially prepared with a great deal of earth (Silicus 

 Italicus; Bk. iii.). Elephants are habitually swum across the 

 Ganges from Dacca an d will remain f dr a long time swimming with- 

 out inconvenience In 1857—60 bet-ween 800 and 900 elephants 

 were brought to Dacca from Moulmein or Rangoon in sailing 

 vessels, but a vast number of casualties resulted, mainly from 

 slinging, and it was found that the abrupt transition from a damp 

 climate to a dry one (with a complete change of food) proved very 

 fatal ; so it was decided in future to march them up by land. 

 Some escaped and others died en route, and over 30 percent, died 

 in 1866-7 as a result of their being subjected to native mismaa- 

 agement at Chittagong. The introduction of European manage- 

 ment materially lessened the fatality. 



