74 FOREST LIFE AND SPORT IN INDIA 
and in his tusks, which are useful in his duels or to 
hurl aside any intruder. They fight by pushing 
forehead to forehead till one gives way and falls or 
flees, when he may be severely gored, or at the least 
have his tail torn out, by his pursuer; for many 
wild-elephants are tailless, or possess only sorry 
stumps, the males bearing this disfigurement as a 
token of defeat, and the females probably as a proof 
of their resistance to the advances of the male. To 
be pursued in the open, when unarmed, by a tusker 
is a most exhausting experience. I was surprised 
by one when fishing in the Ramganga River, and 
only reached safety on the rocks of the farther bank 
by exerting all my agility both on land and water, 
leaving the rod and tackle as the spoils of the 
intruder. 
As to the enemies of wild-elephants, they have 
none save man and those of their own household. 
An animal that with one kick can send a boar 
staggering to his death ten yards away, and can 
throw a bear violently on to the ground and then 
stamp him to a pulp, need not fear to be assaulted 
when roaming through the forest. It is only when 
furious with pain that a tiger will dare to attack 
the elephant, and no animal but the rhinoceros cares 
to measure strength with him. Yet some are killed 
in fighting ; others meet their death by accidentally 
falling on precipitous ground in the rainy season, or 
even by being carried away in the monsoon floods; 
and I have seen instances of each. Perhaps no 
animal is so useless in the wild state, and so indis- 
pensable in captivity, as the elephant. I have 
already sung his praises in the realm of sport; it 
