APPENDIX 369 



moderate quantities is very good for them, particularly if in poor 

 condition. 



Elephants should be picketed on dry ground, standing in damp 

 being a great cause of diseased feet. They do not require any pro- 

 tection from the weather but the shade of a tree, and a Jhool or Numda 

 (cloth of string or felt) thrown over them on cold nights. They should 

 be bathed as often as possible in tanks and rivers ; and a small quantity 

 of clarified butter should afterwards be rubbed over their foreheads, 

 ears, chests, and such parts as are liable to crack, or sufEer from the 

 rubbing of the accoutrements or from the sun. They should be allowed 

 to drink as much water as they like. They are often very nice about 

 it, and reject it when muddy or stagnant. The pad should be of full 

 size and weU-stufEed with grass. The felt cloth that goes under the 

 pad (Gadela) should always be in proper repair, or a sore back is the 

 certain consequence. Both these articles require to be renewed about 

 once a year, if a whole season's work has been done. The smaller 

 felted cloth on which the driver sits should be made large enough to 

 project a little in front of the elephant's forehead, and protect him 

 from a vertical sun. It is not the nature of the animal to remain out 

 in the open in the heat of the day ; and I am sure that he sufiers from 

 it if made to do so unprotected. If not allowed a tree to stand under 

 in the heat of the day, an elephant always heaps aU the leafy branches 

 he can get on his head and back. 



After much marching on stony ground, the feet are apt to get 

 tender from undue wearing away of the horny soles. This is to be 

 remedied by the process called " Chobing," which consists in the 

 application to the feet of a boiling hot mixture of a good many in- 

 gredients, generally resembbng coal tar. Its principal component 

 is the gum resin of the sal tree ; but every mahout professes to have 

 a mixture of his own, which he keeps a profound secret, and which it 

 is as well to let him use, so long as the desired result ensues, and it 

 does not cost more than about five shiUings. There is no doubt that 

 the process is beneficial, the most footsore elephant getting round 

 under it in about a week. It requires to be done about twice a year, 

 if the animal is regularly worked on hard ground. 



In dropsical Z6rbad the food must be reduced to a minimum, about 

 4 lbs. of wheat or 6 lbs. of rice ; and if the latter be the diet it should 

 be given boiled. No green fodder should be allowed, only dry grass 

 or Kurbee. A purgative should also be given; and the following 

 recipe, which I got from a very experienced elephant doctor, is as 

 good as any : — 



Croton seed . ■ . . .1 ounce 

 Calomel . . . • ^i drachms 

 Aloes 6 drachms 



made into a ball with rice flour and " goor " (crude sugar). Most 

 elephants take physic without any trouble. In a bad case the swell- 

 ings will have to be tapped. Many mahouts know how to perform 



BB 



