II 
THE ELEPHANT 
35 
peculiarly sensitive, and although the skin is thick, 
the smallest substance can be discovered, and picked 
up by the tiny proboscis at the extremity. 
A wound upon any portion of the trunk must 
occasion intense pain, and the animal instinctively 
coils the lower portion beneath its chest when 
attacked by a tiger. This delicacy of nerve renders 
the elephant exceedingly timid after being wounded, 
and it is a common and regrettable occurrence that 
an elephant which has been an excellent shikar 
animal before it has been injured, becomes useless 
to face a tiger after it has been badly clawed. I 
cannot understand the carelessness of an owner 
who thus permits a good elephant to work un¬ 
protected. In ancient days the elephants were 
armoured for warlike purposes to protect them from 
spears and javelins, and nothing can be easier than 
to arrange an elastic protective hood, which would 
effectually safeguard the trunk and head from the 
attack of any animal. 
I had an excellent hood arranged for a large 
tusker which was lent to me by the Commissariat. 
The first layer of material was the soft but thick 
buff leather of sambur deer. This entirely covered 
the head, and was laced beneath the throat; at the 
same time it was secured by a broad leather strap 
and buckle around the neck. A covering for about 
three feet from the base of the trunk descended 
from the face and was also secured by lacing. The 
lower portion of the trunk was left unprotected, as 
the animal would immediately guard against danger 
