Sxxvm 



except during the liot weather when they are dry, free from 

 miasma, and afford a welcome shelter from the powerful rays of 

 the sun. The most approved elephant lines are covered sheds 

 whereby the animals can be sheltered as well from the cool of the 

 early morning as from the heat of midday and the cold of monsoon 

 rains, conditions equally prejudicial to the animal. These build- 

 ings should bo on high ground, open to breezes, and a wooden 

 stout flooring at some elevation from the ground is useful, but not 

 essential if the soil flooring be of kunkur or morrum and kept in 

 good order, in the same way as the flooring of horse lines.* When 



animal on the top of the charra, the ends resting on the gi'ound. Gidler- 

 hands, leathern neckpieces, through which the stout neck-rope securing 

 the logs passes, should be provided for this work as the animals are liable 

 to get galled about the neck and chest when transporting timber in this 

 wise. Sheds should be open at sides and give space 22 ft. x 22 ft. for 

 each elephant and be 20 ft. high. To prevent the elephants getting sorefeet, 

 to which they are very liable when chained for any length of time in one 

 place, each stall should be paved in the centre with logs (which are the 

 least expensive, although boards are better, (3 in. thick by 10 ft. long) 

 under the hind feet forming a level square of 10 ft. x 10 ft. : in the centre 

 underneath the logs a small drain should be cut to carry off moisture. 

 Thi.i will communicate in turn with a larger drain which must be dug at a 

 distance of l.'j yards, or so in rear of the sheds, and running parallel to it 

 two rows of stout posts should be planted, one in front and the other in 

 roar, for securing tlie elephant chains, or Bhundhuns, to. Tlie tliatch of 

 the sheds need not be more than 4 in. in thickness. " During the monsoons 

 several casualties and much sickness will be prevented by providing them 

 with timely shelter"— (Hood) 



*'ihe "Manual of Mounfain Aiiillcry,'i882," enumerates the following 

 methods of securing elephants : — 



1. Anklet on one fore foot only, the other ankle being linked through 

 the ring of a long chain, the hook end being secured round a tree, post, 

 or into the ringbolt. Allows the maximum amount of liberty ; to be used 

 during the day. 



2. Long chain round one hind leg, to tree, post, or ringbolt. Also suit- 

 able for day tethering. 



3. The above with addition of .anklets on both fore feet. 



4. Anklet on one fore foot only, the other being linked on the ringbolt. 



5. Both anklets on fore feet, the coupling chain through a ringbolt. 



tJ. The above, with the addition of long chain on one hind leg; only to 

 he allowed in special cases. 



It is a good thing to protect Elephants standing in the open by low mud 

 walls, especially if fed on dry fodder, for the bhoosa is blown away from their 

 trunks. Elephants on service require jhools of gnnny lined with blanket. 



