174 The Life of an Ekphant 



awoke in the south raising small whirls of dust, 

 giving warning to all living animals that it was 

 time to seek shelter from 

 heat and light. The snake 

 uncoiled himself and his 

 black length undulated 

 over the plain, leaving a furrow in the dust 

 transversely marked by the large scales of 

 his belly. He continued his journey till he 

 arrived at a stack of green-leaved branches 

 which offered a cool and safe retreat, and, 

 entering, disappeared from view. 



It was sunset when the elephant, Maula Bux, 

 returned from the labours of the day. For long 

 hours he had borne the heavy trappings of 

 state, which entirely enveloped his body and 

 prevented the cooling breeze from reaching his 

 sensitive skin. On the top of these heavy 

 cloths of gold and silk he had carried the state 

 howdah, itself no mean weight, wherein sat 

 those whom the people delighted to honour. 

 Preceded, surrounded, and followed by spear- 

 men, by bearers of " Chaunries " and umbrellas, 

 he had paced the processional path, unalarmed 



