A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS. 
(4) Swinging the trunk only to the left and right, called pa-ket- 
/ihve {(^QcS(^, rocking the cradle). 
(5) A restlessness of the whole body, somewhat after the fashion 
of bears, called sa-gaw-waing (ogood^5§, action of a winnowing 
tray). 
(6) Holding the trunk up in the air and putting it into the mouth, 
called tein-nyiin-sa (cSS^^ODs, literally to eat the clouds), star 
gazing. 
The conformation of an animal naturally affects its value. 
IVet-ko/i (0060:^^8, pig's back), or fiat backs, are considered best 
suited for carrying purposes. 
Nga-phai-kon (c^sooSoc^^g, like the back of the ncra-phai fish, 
i.e., an even curve), or those with a slight curve of the back, are 
considered best for dragging purposes, as it is supposed that the 
dragging gear fits this class of animal better than others. 
Those animals with backs described as pyat-that-hon ({yoDoSoqSs, 
like the curve of a pyat-that, or sharp curve) may be employed for 
dragging or carrying, but great care must be exercised in attending 
to the gear, as such animals easily gall. 
A loose fold of skin across the lower part of the neck, QrAX^A payit 
(ols^8), is not a bad omen and rather raises the value of the animal. 
Some elephants have four nails only on each foot ; this decreases 
their value, as five nails on each foot raises the same ; four on each 
of the front feet and five on the hind ones does not interfere with 
their value. Out of a total of 623 Indian, Burmese and Siamese 
elephants, only three possessed twenty nails 500 had eighteen 
104 sixteen and 16 seventeen toes 
4-4 ^ 4-4' 4-4 
The male elephants called han (ooS) and hat?ig (c^6s) are often 
from 30 to 40 per cent, cheaper than tuskers. Generally speaking, 
they are inclined to be ill-tempered. These are probably the 
animals mentioned by Steel as always found single. I think their 
solitary life is usually not of their own seeking, but is brought about 
by the presence of powerful tuskers which resent their mixing with 
the herd, for if they can decoy a cow from a herd, or pick up with 
a tame female, they will do so. 
A register recording age, height, sex, marks, year and place 
of purchase, price, name and residence of vendor, should be 
kept for reference. 
Sales. 
Elephants are bought and sold like other cattle, that is, the 
purchaser pays for the animal and takes it away. When Europeans 
contemplate purchasing elephants, it is advisable to come to some 
