XXXIX 



ou tlie marcli elephants are generally tied to trees, in the lines 

 they are fastened by means of a chain to a ring in the gi'ound.* 

 They are usually so docile that this suffices and many will volun- 

 tarily fasten it around the foreliml) above the foot. So adroit are 

 they, indeed, with the trunk, that it is wonderful they do not free 

 themselves when they like. Males showing the premonitory signs 

 of Must require special fastening by shackles of consideraMe 

 strength and "a set of implements used to restrain unruly ele- 

 phants should always bo kept on hand in the cattle lines and one, 

 set should be sent with elephants proceeding on command," of 

 course attention to this para. 1780 of 1882 C. C. is less requisite, 

 now females only ave obtained for the public service. The camp- 

 ing ground must be fairly smooth and freed from large stones, 

 and plenty of room should be given to each animal so that he 

 can move and lie down freely and not steal his neighbour's food. 

 An elejiliaut 10^ feet high is about 16 feet long from front of 

 face to root of tail, so the picketting rings should be about 

 20 feet apart. It need scarcely be impressed on the minds of 

 those who are in supervision of elephants that strict attention must 

 in every respect be paid to the laws of Hygiene. It was hardly 

 creditable to those officers who were in charge of elephants in 

 the Kuram valley in 1879 that the Inspecting Veterinary Surgeon 

 found the elephants there bedded down on their own dung ! 

 Water should be given twice daily, say at 8 A.M. and 6 p.m. 

 Wild elephants usually drink after sunrise and before sunset. 

 Good water is a prime essential for elephants on the march j they 

 are fastidious over this even more perhaps than over food. Parkes 

 (we know not who was his authority) is very far from the mark 



* " As a rule the chains with which elephants are secured are of varions 

 patterns and sizes ; either the links are so tliick that only a very thin hook 

 can be inserted into them, and their strength is thereby rendered unavail- 

 ing; or they are so thin that if elephants are alarmed during a storm or by 

 a fire in a village near they snap them and make off. Elephant fetters of 

 the best patterns can be obtained from the Dacca Depot. Mahouts aro 

 very fond of securing tlieir elephants both fore and aft in the most irksome 

 manner, though «, rope or chain fastened to one foot and to a peg in tho 

 ground is sufficient restraint for most elephants. This latter mode of 

 fastening allows them to turn to or from tho siyi or -wind as they find 

 agreeable. Natives think nothing of securing an elephant so that one side 

 is exposed day and night for weeks together to wind and raia" (Sanderson). 



