78 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS 
CHAP. 
should be in a howdah he would probably be swept 
off and killed by the intervening branches, or torn 
to shreds by the tangled thorns, many of which are 
armed with steel-like hooks. 
It is impossible to train all elephants alike, and 
very few can be rendered thoroughly trustworthy; 
the character must be born in them if they are to 
approach perfection. 
Our present perfect example should be quite 
impassive, and should take no apparent notice of 
anything, but obey his mahout with the regularity 
of a machine. No noise should disturb the nerves, 
no sight terrify, no attack for one moment shake 
the courage; even the crackling of fire should 
be unheeded, although the sound of high grass 
blazing and exploding before the advancing line of 
fire tries the nerves of elephants more than any 
other danger. 
An elephant should march with an easy swinging 
pace at the rate of 5 miles an hour, or even 6 
miles within that time upon a good flat road. As 
a rule, the females have an easier pace than the 
large males. When the order to stop is given, 
instead of hesitating, the elephant should instantly 
obey, remaining rigidly still without swinging the 
head or flapping the ears, which is its inveterate 
and annoying habit. The well-trained animal 
should then move backward or forward, either 
one or several paces, at a sign from the mahout, 
and then at once become as rigid as a rock. 
Should the elephant be near a tiger, it will 
