154 
LUCKNOW. 
be a fight of these huge animals. The plain was crowded with 
spectators, and with a body of foot, and cavalry armed with spears. 
The elephants chosen were in must,* and attended each by their 
female, whom they followed quietly till they saw the crowd. They 
then setoff at a very quick pace, and would easily have overtaken the 
people on foot, had not their attention been called off by the horse- 
men, who rode up so close to them as sometimes even to touch 
them with their spears. The elephant thus touched instantly turned 
his resentment against the horseman, whom, however, he pursued in 
vain. The instant he caught a sight of his antagonist, he rushed 
forward to meet him ; and the shock was so violent as generally to 
raise one of them on his hind feet. Their trunks were elevated in 
the air, and they continued to push against each other for some 
time ; one generally receding, as the other advanced. I was sur- 
prised that the mohouts were able to keep their seats, f- They 
seemed anxious for the glory of their animals, encouraged them, 
and drove them on with their sharp iron spears. After it was 
thought that a pair had fought sufficiently, they were allured 
oflP the ground by their females, who were indeed the cause of all 
this warfare. The first pair were cowards, and ran away : the 
second and third behaved very well ; but the fourth gave us the 
greatest amusement. The strongest drove the other into the river, 
where he followed him. They threw water against each other, and 
made several attacks. The weakest, however, when he came to the 
opposite bank, retreating still backwards, found the elevation of 
ground assist him so much, that he made a stand, and prevented 
* Heat. 
f On th€;se occasions they sit on the centre of the animal's back, to be out of the 
reach of the trunk of the adverse elephant. 
