The Elephant 49 



likely the animal, whose form is almost invisible in the 

 half-lights of these forests, is aware of his pursuer's pres- 

 ence before the latter sees him, and if he has remained, it 

 is because he means mischief. Then it may well happen 

 with the sportsman as it did with Arlett, Wedderburn, 

 Krieger, McLane, Wahlberg, and many another. 



It stands to reason that a herd is harder to approach 

 without being discovered than a single elephant would be. 

 The chances that the hunter will be seen are greater, and 

 their scattered positions make it more probable that some 

 of them will get his wind. 



Occasionally an old bull who despises that part of man- 

 kind who do not possess improved rifles, and knows per- 

 fectly well the difference between an Englishman and a 

 native, will take possession of some unfortunate ryot's 

 millet field or cane patch, and hold it by right of conquest 

 against all attempts to dislodge him. Crowds revile the 

 animal from a safe distance, and a village shikdri comes 

 with a small-bored matchlock and shoots pieces of old iron 

 and pebbles at him from the nearest position where it is 

 mathematically certain that he will be secure. As for the 

 marauder, he stays where he is until everything is eaten 

 or destroyed, or until he gets tired. 



The amount actually consumed by elephants forms but 

 a small portion of the loss which agriculturists sustain 

 from their forays. They always trample down and ruin 

 far more than they eat. Both in India and Ceylon, various 

 districts suffered so severely in this way that government 

 gave rewards for all elephants killed. This has now been 

 discontinued in both countries, but in many places where 



