THE GREAT HERBIVORES 161 
marked that it would be a great triumph if I could succeed in 
training these animals, for at that time it was still erroneously 
supposed that the African, unlike the Indian, species of ele- 
phant was unfit either for a beast of burden or for a play-actor. 
Great was Virchow’s astonishment, not to say incredulity, 
when I replied that if he cared to come again the following 
afternoon he should find the young elephants properly broken 
in, notwithstanding the fact that as yet no attempt had been 
made to train them. .I said that I would teach the brutes to 
allow the Nubians to ride them, and also to carry loads. The 
professor shook his head sceptically, but promised to come 
with some friends the next day at 5 P.M. 
There was no time to be lost, for I wished to keep my 
word at all costs. No sooner had Virchow departed than 
the training was begun. I had the elephants brought out, 
and, selecting some of the most agile Nubians, I promised 
them rewards if they would clamber on to the elephants’ backs 
and maintain themselves in that precarious position. The 
natives were quite game, but the elephants by no means 
relished the part they were expected to play. They found 
the loads on their backs uncomfortable, and rushing around 
with loud trumpeting, they shook themselves with such 
vigour that all the riders except one were sent flying into the. 
sand. After the animals had been fed with bread and 
turnips they became somewhat quieter, and then the 
Nubians essayed their task once more, this time with greater 
success. This procedure was continued until nightfall, by 
which time three of the creatures had been so far broken in 
that they would quite good-naturedly allow their native 
keepers to ride them about the menagerie. The next morn- 
ing their good example was followed by their two comrades, 
and it now only remained to teach them to carry loads in- 
stead of men. I ordered some sacks to be filled and bound 
together in pairs with straps, and these were then hung over 
the backs of the elephants. The beasts at first disliked the 
feeling of the loads resting against their flanks, but they soon 
II 
