206 
SCENES IN INDIA, 
and fourteen. Their dislike to persons on horseback 
is extreme, and they are particularly annoyed by the 
rattle of military trappings in their rear. Of this pe- 
culiarity in their temperament, a remarkable instance 
was related tq, me by the owner of the animal repre- 
sented in the engraving. 
Shortly after his arrival in India, he mounted an 
elephant for the purpose of ascertaining how far such 
a method of travelling might be agreeable. He was 
placed upon the common seat with which the sagacious 
beast, when not properly caparisoned, is furnished. It 
is a mere semicircular bench with a low back. An 
officer was in his rear on horseback, encumbered with 
his military trappings, his sword hanging and rattling 
against the horse’s side at every step of his progress. 
The elephant, upon hearing the unwelcome sound, 
began to increase its speed, which put the rider to 
considerable inconvenience, as he had some difficulty 
in keeping his seat. The officer, enjoying the joke, 
followed the elephant, keeping close at its heels, and 
maliciously adding to the rattling of his trappings by 
striking his whip occasionally against the saddle. The 
vast creature, which by this time had become greatly 
excited by the annoyance of an unwelcome companion, 
plunged at once from a rough trot into a rougher gallop, 
which so completely upset the equilibrium of the rider, 
that he was obliged to cling to the seat with all his 
strength, in order to prevent the chance of being pre- 
cipitated from his fearful elevation. The jeopardy in 
which he was so unexpectedly placed continued for one 
hour, the horse and elephant being almost at full speed 
during the whole time, when it appeared that they 
