Ill 
THE ELEPHANT 
77 
When ordered to kneel, it should obey instantly, 
and remain patiently upon the ground until permitted 
to rise from this uneasy posture. In reality the 
elephant does not actually kneel upon its fore knees, 
but only upon those of the hinder legs, while it 
pushes its fore legs forward and rests its tusks upon 
the ground. This is a most unnatural position, and 
is exceedingly irksome. Some elephants are very 
impatient, and they will rise suddenly without orders 
while the ladder is placed against their side for 
mounting. Upon one occasion a badly-trained 
animal jumped up so suddenly that Lady Baker, who 
had already mounted, was thrown off on one side, 
while I, who was just on the top of the ladder, was 
thrown down violently upon the other. A badly- 
tutored elephant is exceedingly dangerous, as such 
vagaries are upon so large a scale that a fall is 
serious, especially should the ground be stony. 
A calm and placid nature free from all timidity is 
essential. Elephants are apt to take sudden fright 
at peculiar sounds and sights. In travelling through 
a jungle path it is impossible to foretell what 
animals may be encountered on the route. Some 
elephants will turn suddenly round and bolt, upon 
the unexpected crash of a wild animal startled in the 
forest. The scent or, still worse, the roar of a bear 
within 50 yards of the road will scare some 
elephants to an extent that will make them most 
difficult of control. The danger may be imagined 
should an elephant absolutely run away with his 
rider in a dense forest; if the unfortunate person 
