THE CAPARISONED ELEPHANT. 
205 
to a British officer, and was the finest I have ever 
seen in India, insomuch that Mr. Daniell thought it a 
subject worthy of his pencil. It was purchased for 
four thousand rupees, or about four hundred pounds 
sterling. The caparisoned elephant, and this was one, 
appears perfectly conscious of its superiority over the 
baggage elephant. It seems to treat its inferior as a 
beast of burden, eyeing it, upon a close proximity, 
with a look of most ineffable disdain ; never conde- 
scending to be sociable with it, but generally ma- 
nifesting uneasiness when they happen to be placed 
in casual juxtaposition. 
The caparisoned elephant has a most imposing 
appearance when furnished with its housings, which 
are sometimes very magnificent, and its broad back 
surmounted by the stately howdah, in which the 
rider is seated in sumptuous ease under one canopy, 
while his servant occupies a seat under another ; the 
Mahoot or conductor bestriding the animal’s neck, 
armed with an instrument like a boat-hook to goad 
it into speed or restrain it, as occasion may require. 
The ladder is a necessary appendage to its furniture, 
and is always drawn up and fastened on the ele- 
phant’s left side after the parties have mounted ; for 
although the submissive creature falls down upon its 
belly, with its fore and hind legs projected, in order 
to facilitate the ascent of its riders, still, without the 
ladder, to mount its lofty back would be altogether 
impracticable. 
The ordinary pace of these animals is from five 
to six miles an hour, though upon occasions they have 
been known to travel at the rate of between twelve 
T 
