28 
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS. 
heading can have but little general application ; local circumstances, 
such as the configuration of the ground, the distribution of the 
logs, and of the floating streams, will decide. A few facts may 
nevertheless be interesting. Tw^o hundred logs, say two hundred 
and fifty tons per animal, dragged ex situ to the, floating streams in 
the course of the season, may be regarded as an exceptionally 
favourable figure. It could not be accomplished except in a district 
newly opened up, where dead trees were still standing in consider- 
able numbers in proximity to the streams. But taking Burma 
jungles in their ordinary form, an elephant might have to drag the 
logs some miles to the streams, and would probably die before he 
collected half that amount. In some cases the hill streams are fit 
for floating timber, and the work is about a third less than in others 
where a second land journey has to be made from the confines of 
the hills through the plain to the point where the stream becomes 
suitable for floating. The principal and the most trying part of the 
dragging work, namely, that of the isolated trees from their original 
sites up and down hill to the preliminary depots, should be under- 
taken in the cold-weather months when the deepest leaf covering 
is on the ground, which, moistened by heavy dews, allows the logs 
to slide more easily. 
A small dragging cart (Fig. 2) has been employed with profit 
even in the hills, and there is little doubt that by bringing thought to 
bear on improving such appliances and placing less reliance on 
sheer brute force, elephant labour might be economized {see Figs. 3 
and 4) both in regard to the number of animals needed and the 
strain placed upon the powers of each. 
Before and after work it is necessary to inspect all parts liable to 
gall, and if the animal has been carrying a load the attendant should 
shampoo the back with his feet and hands. The trunk and feet 
should be carefully examined for cuts, bruises, and foreign bodies, 
such as thorns, bamboo spikes, and during the rains the body for 
leeches, which are very plentiful in some parts of the Province and 
the bites from which at times cause nasty sores. 
Power of Endurance. 
Though such large animals, their power of endurance is much 
less than is generally supposed, as they are constitutionally delicate. 
Through lack of appreciation of this fact, these animals have not 
received the attention they justly deserve ; and owing to the popular 
impression that they are extremely strong, the error obtaining in 
this respect has led to their being too highly tasked, and much of the 
