II 
THE ELEPHANT 
53 
In the same manner, but perhaps in a lesser 
degree, the elephant will remember those whom it 
dislikes, and during the season of “ must ” it would be 
exceedingly dangerous for such persons to venture 
within reach of the animal’s trunk. Stories are 
numerous concerning the animosity of elephants 
against their mahouts or other attendants who have 
cruelly treated them ; but, on the other hand, the 
animals frequently exhibit a wild ferocity towards 
those who have been innocent of harshness. As 
characters vary among human beings, and some 
persons when intoxicated become suddenly brutal, 
although when sober they have been mild in reputa¬ 
tion, so also we find conflicting natures among 
elephants, and the insane excitement of the “must” 
period varies in intensity in different animals. 
There was a well-known elephant some years ago 
in the Balaghat district of the Central Provinces 
which became historical through the extraordinary 
malignity of its disposition. Having escaped from 
the fetters, it killed the mahout, and at once 
made off towards the forests. It is a curious 
example of nature that creatures i^ferce naturce) 
have a tendency to return to their original state 
of savagedom when the opportunity is offered. 
If an elephant is seized with a panic when upon 
open ground, it will rush for the nearest jungle, 
probably with the intention of concealment. The 
animal in question returned to its wild state directly 
it had escaped from confinement, but the domestica¬ 
tion of many years appears to have sharpened its 
