A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS. 
on the back. With many animals these have an inclination to move 
backv^ ards and forwards so that the guddee works beyond the guddela 
and abrasions are thus likely to result. A careful mahout knows 
his animal's peculiarity and makes allowance for this when putting 
on the gear. Constant attention must be given on the march to see 
that they retain their relative positions. 
Saddle. — The lower side-bars should be wrapped with soft rope to 
prevent chafing of the load and girth-ropes, and a network of rope 
should be woven between the upper bars to prevent small articles 
falling through. 
It is placed on the guddee with the bobbin-end in front, and 
must occupy a medium position on the back. 
Girth must be doubled and the centre marked off with chalk, 
which mark must be placed at the middle of the belly while adjusting. 
Correct the length of the webbing by holding chalk-mark in position. 
If correct it should allow the iron D's to clear the fore-limbs in 
action, but not to come so high that the pulleys may fall on to the 
guddee. If the webbing is too long or short correct accordingly ; 
then hook the D's of the girth on to the lowest ring of the chains 
on each side. Tighten the girth so that the rings may come nearly 
home to the bobbins on the saddle, and see that the positions on 
different parts correspond on both sides. 
Fasten one of the short ropes attached to the rings to the near 
or left side bobbin of saddle, carrying it two or three times between 
bobbin and ring and secure, leaving the ring about 9 ins. from 
the bobbin ; lash up the other ring-rope, as on near side, to off or 
right side bobbin and ring and haul quite tight. 
This is done by the mahout who stands on the guddee. Now 
loosen the near side ring-rope, pull the girth as tight as possible and 
make fast. If properly adjusted, both the rings should be nearly 
home to the bobbins, the pulleys clear of the guddee, and the girth 
throughout quite tight. Lashings may require to be slightly 
shortened in a few days when the gear settles. 
To re-tighten girth on the march. — Pull it up equally and 
alternately on each side by the ropes attached to the D's and link 
higher into chains, then pull D rope under the hooks on D's and 
wrap round chains, or neck or crupper-ropes. The chains should 
invariably be put back to their bottom links at next starting. 
Neck-rope. — Loop into one of the front corner rings of saddle, 
carry round neck, and with the elephant's head raised pull as tight 
as possible through the other ring, and knot. 
Crupper-rope.- — Pass through crupper pipe, secure into rear 
corner-ring of saddle like neck-rope make very short when descend- 
ing hills or the elephant's withers may be galjed. 
