72 



The milk has been shown, by Dr. Chas. Doremus, to be vei-y 

 rich with au agreeable taste and odour, and less water and more 

 butter and sugar, than any other {Med. Times and Gaz., 1881). 

 Artingstall found that it closely resembled cocoa-nut milk and 

 was secreted in quantities daily greater than that of the best 

 Jersey cow and one-eighth greater bulk of cream. Corse found 

 that after parturition the animal in about six months' time 

 manifests syv^doms of heat which last only a few days, there 

 being slight swelling and congestion of the vulva, which also 

 descends to a slight degree; when the female desires attentions 

 of the male she utters certain sounds. It has been found that, 

 although pampered and highly fed, white elephants do not breed, 

 but this is probably due to their lax constitutions and general 

 unhoalthiness, for it is recorded that they are liable to enlarge- 

 ments of the joints and certain disorders of the skin. 



[I have recently been informed that in the Karen country free 

 breeding occurs among the herds of semi-domesticated elephants 

 which constitute a considerable part of the wealth of people, and 

 which are daily driven out into the jungle to graze. 



So numerous are elephants to the west of British Burma, that, 

 when any are required to carry loads of merchandize, they are 

 impressed from the herd, and given a short day's march under a 

 light load each, being replaced by freshly impressed animals for 

 the next day's journey. Thus the natives get their work done 

 without having to give their elephants grain food. 



Elephant stealing is a branch of industry which has attained 

 a considerable development along the Siam Frontier of Burma. 

 It is carried on in the night and pursuit prevented by throwing 

 alontr the track traversed pieces of bamboo joints >o cut as to 

 form three very sharp projections such as would severely lame 

 pursuers, whether on foot or elephants. The elephant stealers 

 show mvfch skill in obliteration of distinctive marks. (J. H. S.)] 



