82 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA YS 
CHAP. 
colours and devices, exhibiting great taste and skill 
on the part of the designer. It is curious to observe 
the dexterity with which an otherwise ignorant 
mahout will decorate the head of his animal by 
drawing most elaborate curves and patterns, that 
would tax the ability of a professional artist among 
Europeans. 
The howdah is the only accepted arrangement for 
sporting purposes, and much attention is necessary in 
its construction, as the greatest strength should be 
combined with lightness. There ought to be no 
doors, as they weaken the solidity of the whole. The 
weight of a good roomy howdah should not exceed 
two hundredweight, or at the outside 230 pounds. 
It must be remembered that the howdah is not 
adapted for travelling, as there is a disagreeable 
swinging motion inseparable from its position upon 
the elephant’s back which is not felt upon either the 
pad or the char-jarma. The howdah is simply for 
shooting, as you can fire in any direction, which is 
impossible from any other contrivance where the 
rider sits in a constrained position. 
A good howdah should be made of exceedingly 
strong and tough wood for the framework, dovetailed, 
and screwed together, the joints being specially 
secured by long corner straps of the best iron. The 
frame ought to be panelled with galvanised wire of 
the strongest description, the mesh being one-half 
inch. The top rail, of a hard wood, should be 
strengthened all around the howdah by the addition 
of a male bamboo i-J- inch in diameter, securely 
