ELEPHANTS. 265 



Mr. Sanderson tells us that in November, 1875, he despatched 

 a batch of seventy-nine elephants from Dacca to Barrackpur, near 

 Calcutta, and that they had the Ganges and several of its large 

 tidal branches to cross. In the longest swim they were six hours 

 without touching the bottom; after a rest on a sand-bank they 

 completed the swim in three more. Not one was lost, and he 

 adds that he has heard of more remarkable swims than this. He 

 also states that he saw an elephant swim a river three hundred 

 yards wide with his hind-legs tied together, which proves that 

 these massive animals have buoyant bodies. 



Before quitting the water, and at other times when it gets 

 the opportunity, it is curious to watch an elephant taking up 

 a supply for future use; for its stomach somewhat resembles 

 that of a camel in its conveniences, and possesses a chamber 

 that can be cut off by a valvular arrangement from the one 

 devoted to the process of digestion. In this receptacle the 

 animal can store about ten gallons of water., which it can take 

 back into the trunk at pleasure, and either employ it to assuage 

 its thirst by re-swallowing it, or use it for the purpose of cooling 

 the body by sprinkling the water over it, a species of shower-bath 

 that seems to be very enjoyable judging from the number of 

 times an elephant will indulge in it when water is plentiful. 



The elephant utters a considerable variety of sounds, some 

 through the trunk, and others through the throat. The one 

 generally heard, which seems at one time to be indicative of 

 pleasure, at another of anger, is a shrill, trumpet-like sound 

 produced by blowing through the trunk ; if, however, brooding 

 by itself, it signifies its anger by a continued hoarse grumbling 

 from the throat. Fear is expressed by a shrill, brassy trumpeting, 

 or by a roar from the throat. Pleasure, we learn from one 

 experienced in the matter, is manifested by a " continued low . 

 squeaking through the trunk, or an almost inaudible purring 

 sound from the throat. Want — as a calf calling its mother — is 

 chiefly expressed by the throat. A peculiar sound is made use of 

 by elephants to express dislike or apprehension, and at the same 

 time to intimidate, as when the cause of some alarm has not been 

 clearly ascertained, and the animal wishes to deter an intruder. 



