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 unerringly rejects. 



three men. One, as his mahout or His favourites are the palms, espe- 



superintendent, and two as leaf- cially 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. urens) 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. religiosct) which 



curing an abundant supply of the is found near every temple, and 



branches of the trees to which ele- the na gaha (Messna 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 sum- and bread-fruit (Artocarpics inte- 



ciently expert in the knowledge of grifolia, and A. incisa), the Wood 



those particular plants with which apple (2Egle Mcirmelos), Palu (Mi- 



the elephant is satisfied. Those musops Indica), and a number of 



