230 
MAMMALIA. 
[Chap. VII. 
tear of the highways and bridges would prove too costly 
to be borne. On the other hand,, by restricting it to a 
somewhat more manageable quantity, and by limiting 
the weight, as at present, to about one ton and a half, 
it is doubtful whether an elephant performs so much 
more work than could be done by a horse or by bullocks, 
as to compensate for the greater cost of his feeding and 
attendance. 
Add to this, that from accidents and other causes, 
from ulcerations of the skin, and illnesses of many kinds, 
the elephant is so often invalided, that the actual cost 
of his labour, when at work, is very considerably en- 
hanced. Exclusive of the salaries of higher officers 
attached to the government establishments, and other 
permanent charges, the expenses of an elephant, looking 
only to the wages of his attendants and the cost of his 
food and medicines, varies from three shillings to four 
shillings and sixpence per diem, according to his size 
and class. 1 Taking the average at three shillings and 
1 An ordinary-sized elephant en- that would be likely to disagree 
grosses the undivided attention of with him he iinerringly rejects. 
three men. One, as his mahout or His favourites are the palms, espe- 
superintendent, and two as leaf- eially the cluster of rich, unopened 
cutters, who bring him branches leaves, known as the " cabbage," of 
and grass for his daily supplies, the coco-nut, and areca ; and he de- 
An animal of larger growth would lights to tear open the young trunks 
probably require a third leaf-cutter, of the palmyra and jaggery (Caryota 
The daily consumption is two cwt. wrens) in search of the farinaceous 
of green food with about half a matter contained in the spongy 
bushel of grain. When in the pith. Next to these come the 
vicinity of towns and villages, the varieties of fig-trees, particularly 
attendants have no difficulty in pro- the sacred Bo (F. religiosd) which, 
curing an abundant supply of the is found near every temple, and 
branches of the trees to which ele- the na gaha {Messua f erred), with 
phants are partial ; and in journeys thick dark leaves and a scarlet 
through the forests and unopened flower. The leaves of the Jak-tree 
country, the leaf-cutters are suffi- and bread-fruit (Artocarpzis inte- 
ciently expert in the knowledge of grifolia, and A. incisa), the Wood 
those particular plants with which apple (Mgle Marmelos), Palu (Mi- 
the elephant is satisfied. Those musops Indicd), and a number of 
